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HDT International Holdings announces the acquisition of Airborne Systems Group.

SOLON, OHIO – January 27, 2010 – HDT International Holdings, Inc. (“HDT”), which is majority owned by Metalmark Capital, today announced the acquisition of Airborne Systems Group Limited
(“Airborne”), the world’s leading developer and manufacturer of parachute systems and related products.
HDT is a holding company that also owns HDT Engineered Technologies, a leading provider of highly engineered mobile military and emergency response solutions. The two companies will be separately operated under the leadership of HDT. Elek Puskas, who has led Airborne since 2005, and Airborne’s current senior management team, will continue to lead the company under HDT’s ownership. Financial terms were not disclosed.

“During its 90 year history, Airborne and its predecessors have earned a strong reputation for designing and delivering innovative, high quality products to a global military customer base,” said John Gilligan, Chairman of HDT. “In recent years, Airborne created the bulk of next-generation products adopted by the US Army, including the T-11 and MC-6 troop parachutes as well as the Joint Precision Airdrop Systems (“JPADS”) that allow for the high altitude air drop of cargo and precision-guided delivery to targeted drop zones. We look forward to working with Elek and his exceptional team to assist Airborne as it continues to provide such products and services in support of high-priority programs.”

 “Airborne’s products and engineering expertise complement the full HDT line of deployable, expeditionary solutions and broaden the range of products and services that we are able to offer our customers,” said Vince Nardy, Chief Executive Officer of HDT. “The acquisition also expands HDT’s global footprint and customer relationships, augments our product development and engineering service capabilities, and adds a number of very talented and experienced professionals to our leadership team.” 

“The addition of Airborne’s unparalleled assets and experience to the HDT platform will accelerate HDT’s objective of providing innovative products and services that help customers in the military and emergency response sectors support lighter, faster, and more agile forces, which are able to quickly deploy, utilize technology-enabled applications, counter asymmetric threats, and achieve mission success,” added Jeff Siegal, Managing Director of Metalmark Capital.

Moelis & Co. and MacFarlanes LLP served as financial and legal advisors to Airborne. RBC Capital Markets and Kirkland & Ellis LLP served as financial and legal advisors to HDT. Debt financing in support of the transaction was led by RBC Capital Markets with BMO Capital Markets and GE Anteres serving as co-lead arrangers.

About HDT Engineered Technologies

HDT Engineered Technologies is a leading provider of mobile-military and emergency response solutions including rapidly-deployable tactical shelters, highly engineered environmental control and power equipment, and nuclear, biological, and chemical collective protection systems. For more information, please visit www.hdtglobal.com.

About Airborne Systems Group Limited

Airborne is a market leader in the development, manufacturing, and support of troop parachute, aerial delivery systems, and related products and services. Airborne is a leader in the United States, United Kingdom, and Canadian military parachute marketplaces and also has significant relationships with other NATO militaries, NASA, and commercial space customers. For more information, please visit
www.airborne-sys.com.

About Metalmark Capital

Metalmark Capital is a leading private equity firm whose principals have a long track record of successful investing in targeted sectors, with particular focus and competence in defense/government services, energy/natural resources, industrials and healthcare. Metalmark Capital seeks to build long-term value through active and supportive partnerships with the companies and management teams in which it invests.
Metalmark Capital is an investment center of Citi Capital Advisors. For more information, please visit
www.metalmarkcapital.com.
For more information, please contact:

Winnie Lerner

The Abernathy MacGregor Group, Inc.

212.371.5999

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Airborne Systems wins a breaktrough contract in France.

Airborne Systems, a world leader in parachute systems, has won its first contract to provide a new troop parachute system for the French airborne forces.
Under the contract with the DGA (Direction Générale de l’Armement), procurement executive of the French Ministry of Defence, more than 23,000 parachutes will be delivered under a multi-year programme. This comprises a combination of main and reserve parachutes, associated load carrying equipment and training systems.
The new parachute known as “Ensemble de Parachutage du Combattant” (EPC) is replacing the existing parachute system, which has been in service for more than 20 years. The new static line operated non-steerable parachute will be used for mass low-level air drops, both in day and night time conditions.
Airborne Systems’ European Division based in Llangeinor, South Wales, will manage the contract, which comprises delivery of equipment and associated documentation to support packing, training and maintenance of the new system. All the work under this contract will be performed in the European Union, using a number of international suppliers.
Chris Rowe, Managing Director of Airborne Systems Europe, said: “Not only is this a major strategic breakthrough for us in France, but we have also reinforced our global leadership position in the parachute systems market. We now have a firm foothold in mainland Europe, which will help us to increase our market penetration.”
The Group, already the major parachute supplier to the UK Ministry of Defence, has now won two major new troop parachute systems contracts in the last four months.
In October 2009, Airborne Systems won the largest of three contracts from the US Department of Defence to manufacture the new Airborne Systems design advanced tactical troop parachute system for the US Army, the T-11.

About Airborne Systems
Airborne Systems Europe is part of Airborne Systems Group, a world leader in the design, development, and manufacture of parachutes for military, personnel, and cargo systems, space and air vehicle recovery systems, and deceleration systems for high-performance aircraft. The company, which incorporates the well known names of GQ Parachutes, Irvin Aerospace, Para-Flite and Aircraft Materials (AML), also provides airbags, naval decoys and weapons delivery systems. The Group is headquartered in Pennsauken, NJ, with facilities in Llangeinor, Bridgend, UK, in Santa Ana, CA, and Belleville, Ontario, Canada. Information about the various Airborne Systems products and services can be found at www.airborne-sys.com.

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Airborne Systems wins largest share of T-11 production contract.

Pennsauken, New Jersey, USA – 20thOctober - Airborne Systems, a world leader in parachute systems, has been awarded the largest of three production delivery order contracts by the US Department of Defense for the new T-11 advanced tactical troop parachute system for the US Armed Forces. The Airborne Systems’ designed T-11 is one of the largest-ever troop parachute system programmes for the US Armed Forces, with a total potential value of $220 million over the next five years. The T-11 will replace the 52,000 T-10 parachutes, currently in service with the US Army, which first entered service in the 1950s.

The T-11 non-steerable parachute features a range of innovative technological advances which will increase the combat power of airborne forces by improving jumper safety while simultaneously allowing jumpers to carry more equipment. The T-11 is designed to carry a paratrooper with an all up weight (AUW) of 400 pounds (180 kg) safely to the ground, approximately 100 pounds greater than the current parachute system.

Elek Puskas, CEO of the Airborne Systems Group, said: “We are delighted with the order and particularly proud to have designed the T-11. In collaboration with the US Army, our engineers have developed a unique and innovative design that has resulted in a much safer assault troop parachute which is much more capable, stable and effective at meeting the needs of the modern soldier on today’s battlefields. The T-11 has already attracted a lot of interest around the world, which with our exclusive rights for the T-11 outside the United States will result in significant export sales for Airborne Systems Group.”

The 75th Ranger Regiment began operational testing of the T-11 at Fort Benning, GA, in March 2009. A remarkable reduction in landing injuries, greater than 75% over the T-10 was achieved during more than 3,000 jumps.

Airborne Systems has received an initial full rate production contract of $13,996,042 for the T-11 which will be produced at its state-of-the-art facility in Santa Ana, California. This amount represents the first delivery order in a five year Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity production contract with multiple delivery awards.

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Airborne Systems precision airdrop system is rolled out across all US Military Forces.

DSEi, London - September 8, 2009 - Airborne Systems announced the full adoption by the US Department of Defense (DoD) of one of its family of Joint Precision Airdrop Systems (JPADS). The JPADS 2K, based on the Airborne Systems FireFly is a GPS guided parachute system capable of carrying payloads of up to 2,200 lb (1000kg) that can be dropped from altitudes up to 25,000 ft (7600m). Using a steerable ram air parachute, the JPADS 2K can fly itself to a target up to 25 kilometres away, and land accurately at the designated target.

Airborne Systems JPADS enhances the operational capabilities for armed forces whilst minimising risk to personnel and equipment during resupply operations. JPADS avoids the need for vehicle convoys and reduces risk to aircrews delivering supplies, and to units on the ground. Compared to the round parachutes used for conventional airdrop, JPADS can also decrease flight hours required for resupply missions as cargo can be delivered to different units at different locations from a common release point along a single flight path.

The JPADS 2K has been in operational theatres with the DoD for over a year as part of an Urgent Material Release, performing successful resupply missions to remote and hazardous locations. Ric Allison, Senior Vice president, Customer Business Airborne Systems Europe comments, "JPADS is a significant advantage to the user. Its technology means that a unit can receive supplies and equipment in almost any weather condition, at any location, without the need to use helicopters and put aircrew and additional soldiers at risk."

The JPADS 2K Program is managed by Product Manager - Force Sustainment Systems (PM-FSS), located at the US Army Natick Soldier Systems Center at Natick, Massachusetts. PM-FSS is currently fielding the JPADS 2K to US forces. In addition to the JPADS 2K Program, PM-FSS also manages the JPADS 10K program which uses the Airborne Systems DragonFlyTM system.

Airborne Systems has sold more than 850 JPADS 2K and FireFlyTM systems to US and International users with substantial orders expected over the next few years. Due to its performance, reliability, and ease of use, the Airborne Systems JPADS 2K is now the most widely fielded precision airdrop system in the world.

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Airborne Systems low cost aerial delivery parachute provides “drop and forget” solution in hostile terrains.

DSEi London Excel (Stand 176) - September 8th 2009 – Airborne Systems Canada announces that the Canadian Department of National Defence (DND) has procured an undisclosed, but significant number of low cost aerial delivery parachutes, the “Unicross”, for “drop-and-forget” missions in Afghanistan.

The cruciform shaped Unicross system is specifically designed for any tactical situation that makes recovery of the chute either too dangerous or economically unfeasible.  It reduces the need for logistical convoys and lessens unnecessary exposure of friendly troops and land vehicles to IEDs (improvised explosive devices).

The Unicross family of parachutes replaces the conventional cargo parachutes such as the G-11, G-12, G14 and T-10 (expired personnel canopy used for cargo) and provides a low cost solution to supply missions. As an example of savings achieved the 2,200 lb (1,000kg) version is around 40 per cent cheaper that the current in-service G-12 cargo parachute. With a price of around one US dollar per pound of weight carried, it is available in 150 lb (70kg), 500 lb (230kg), 2,200 lb (1,000kg) and 5,000 lb (2,300kg) configurations. A cluster of two, three and four separate Unicross parachutes on the same load can increase the weight carrying capacity potentially up to 10,000 pounds.

Made up of between 5 and 33 polypropylene, hand-tied panels, modularity is a key feature of the Unicross system - individual panels can be replaced quickly if torn or damaged and despite being primarily designed for single use, the parachutes can, if recovered, be repacked and re-used.

Operated by static line, the Unicross family of systems exhibits rates of descent (RoD) ranging between 25 and 32 feet (7.5m to 9.75m) per second and achieving 90 feet (27.5m) per second in its high velocity (HV) configuration. The HV configuration of the Unicross makes it a superior alternative to other systems because of the ability of the parachute to effectively decelerate prior to landing, thus increasing the payload survivability and accuracy for critical missions. In addition, this higher rate of descent improves the ballistic accuracy of the canopy. This set-up allows also cargo to be used in HALO (High Altitude Low Opening) operations, a technique favored by special operations forces for covert mission.  

Elizabeth Johnson, Senior Vice President, Customer Business Team at Airborne Systems North America comments:” The low cost and modular features of the Unicross make it a very cost effective piece of equipment, supporting the modern day armed forces in operation in the remote corners of the world.

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NASA Astronaut Visits Airborne Systems Space and Recovery Facility
Santa Ana, CA July 17 - Airborne Systems Group, which has combined the world's leading parachute brands specializing in aerial delivery, rescue and survival equipment, and engineering services, announced that its Airborne Systems North America Space and Recovery Group today hosted a visit by NASA astronaut Barry Wilmore, who is scheduled for an November 2009 Space Shuttle launch to deliver two Express Logistics Carriers (ELC racks) to the International Space Station. The upcoming mission will also feature four spacewalks and will bring Canadian astronaut, Robert Thirsk back to earth.

"NASA wanted our employees to hear firsthand how the products we make directly impact the safety of our NASA astronauts flying in space," said Peter Johnson, General Manager of the Space and Recovery Group. "Captain Wilmore's shuttle flight will be facilitated by straps manufactured at Airborne Systems in Santa Ana. The straps were added to Shuttle Reusable Solid Rocket Motors (RSRM) following the Challenger disaster in 1986. These straps secure heaters to the joint regions of the RSRM, providing proper thermal conditions for launch.  

Today's visit was supported by ATK Space Systems, the producer of the RSRM. It included a tour of the facility and a presentation by Captain Wilmore to all employees followed by a questions and answer period.  

The space shuttle is scheduled to be retired in 2010 and will be replaced by a rocket / capsule design. The future NASA vehicle called Orion / ARES is being supported by both Airborne and ATK. The current space shuttle landing brake parachutes were also manufactured by Airborne Systems.

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Richard Smallwood Named Executive VP, Customer Business at Airborne Systems
Pennsauken, NJ (June 23, 2009) Airborne Systems Group, a company specializing in aerial delivery, rescue and survival equipment, and engineering services, announced that Richard J. Smallwood has been named Executive Vice President of Customer Business for the company. He will operate at Group level as a member of the Senior Management Team and will be responsible for all sales and marketing activity worldwide. His primary focus will be to continue the growth of the company by leveraging the products and overall capabilities while continuing to improve the company’s customer focus.

“Richard brings an exceptional background of global sales and marketing experience with some of the world’s most respected aerospace companies,” Elek Puskas, CEO said in making the announcement. “We are confident that Richard’s expertise and leadership skills will continue to position Airborne Systems as the preeminent market leader in the design and manufacture of parachutes and related products, while maintaining our aggressive growth rate," he added.

Richard has a wealth of experience in international sales and marketing gained mainly in the aerospace and marine industry. He spent 22 years with Rolls-Royce plc holding a number of senior executive positions including Senior Vice President, Airlines and Business Director, Marine Systems. During his time at Rolls-Royce he also spent three years based in Germany as Managing Director, Business for the joint venture BMW Rolls. Prior to Rolls-Royce, he was with BAE Systems where he worked on both civil and military aircraft programmes. He has an honours degree in Production Engineering from Aston University and an MBA from Cranfield School of Management (University).

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Airborne Systems Celebrates 90th Anniversary of Irvin’s Historic Parachute Jump

Santa Ana, CA (April 19, 2009) Airborne Systems Group, which has combined the world’s leading parachute brands specializing in aerial delivery, rescue and survival equipment, and engineering services, today marked the 90th anniversary of the historic parachute jump by Leslie Irvin, who later pioneered an entire parachute industry.

Born near Los Angeles, Irvin started a ballooning and parachuting career in 1911 while in his early teens. In 1915, Irvin joined the Universal Film Company as a stunt man for the fledging Californian film industry where he performed acrobatics on trapezes from balloons and made descents using parachutes. His experience as a stunt man contributed to his later belief that a jumper in a free fall descent would not lose consciousness.

On April 19, 1919, Leslie Leroy Irvin, made the world’s first premeditated free fall parachute descent using a rip cord, rather than using a canister or tether line attached to the aircraft to pull open the parachute. Working with the US Army’s Air Service parachute research team, Irvin made the historic jump from a plane over McCook field near Dayton, Ohio. During the jump, Irvin broke his ankle but was inspired to start his own parachute business.

Later that year, he opened the Irvin Air Chute Company in Buffalo, NY. What became known as the Irvin parachute gained rapid acceptance, and by the early 1930's was in service with some 40 air forces around the world. With the start of World War II, Irvin became a major manufacturer of parachutes. During the war, Irvin parachutes saved over 10,000 lives. The Irvin name had set the standard for innovation, reliability, and quality.

As a humanitarian, Irvin was obsessed with saving lives with his equipment. He founded the Caterpillar Club to recognize individuals that had their lives saved by a parachute. Today, the Caterpillar Club is one of the most famous flying clubs in the world and has awarded thousands of airmen, and a few airwomen with a gold caterpillar pin, symbolizing the silk from which early parachutes were made. Some of its famous members included names such as Charles Lindberg, General James Doolittle and former astronaut John Glenn.

Irvin’s design innovations weren’t limited to parachutes. With aircraft flying at increasing altitudes, pilots were subjected to lowering temperatures. To address this requirement, Irvin designed and manufactured the classic leather and sheepskin RAF flying jacket which became recognized during the Second World War.

In later years, Irvin’s company also made car seat belts, slings for cargo handling and even canning machinery. The company later changed its name to Irvin Aerospace to reflect the change to the newer markets it served. Today, Irvin Aerospace is a brand of Airborne Systems, a leading designer and one of the world’s largest manufacturers of parachutes and related equipment.

“Leslie Irvin was a parachute pioneer and a true American hero” said Paul Colliver, a 50 year employee of the Irvin Company who worked for Leslie Irvin. “How many people can say they made something that saved tens of thousands of lives?”

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Airborne Days Showcases Parachute Technology to Allied Military Audience

Eloy, AZ (February 15, 2009) Airborne Systems Group, which has combined the world’s leading parachute brands specializing in aerial delivery, rescue and survival equipment, and engineering services, held a unique two day parachute technology event, demonstrating some of the world’s most advanced aerial delivery products.

“Airborne Days II” showcased the latest in non-steerable, steerable and ram-air troop parachute systems. Demonstrations were also provided for precision cargo delivery and search and rescue systems. The event allowed allied militaries from around the world to participate in a specialized, hands-on educational format where qualified airborne military personnel were encouraged to take advantage of the opportunity to test jump new state-of the art parachute systems made available from the company. Military personnel from 19 different countries made jumps with a variety of equipment.

Attendees marveled at the precision demonstration of the Airborne Systems MicroFlyTM and FireFlyTM JPADS (Joint Precision Air Drop Systems) which use GPS (Global Positioning Systems) to “steer” the cargo to a specific target location. These JPADS systems are revolutionizing troop re-supply in remote hazardous locations as they can be dropped from altitudes and locations well out the range of small arms fire. The company has developed a series of these precision cargo delivery systems for use with varying weights and sizes using the same software platform. With this “family” approach, the user interface on the Autonomous Guidance Units and the Mission Planer are identical across the various models of precision guided cargo delivery products.

One of the new troop parachutes featured was the T-11 advanced tactical parachute system. The T-11 is the world’s most advanced non-steerable parachute system and is slated to replace the US Army’s aging T-10 series of non-steerable troop parachutes in use since the 1950’s. The T-11 is designed to carry more weight, reduce opening shock and reduce impact energy upon landing to lessen the potential for injury. Another new technology shown on interactive display was the U.S. Army’s latest steerable troop parachute, the MC-6 system which is being fielded to replace the U.S. Army’s MC1-1 series of steerable troop parachutes. Like the T-11, the new MC-6 has reduced opening shock, less oscillation and reduces impact energy upon landing

Several high performance military parachutes were also featured. These included the Hi Glide HAHO (High Altitude, High Opening) system which has the highest gliding capability available and has been adopted by the U.S. Marine Corps, along with the Raider/Intruder System currently under evaluation as a candidate for the replacement of the U.S. Army’s MC-4 Ram Air Parachute System. A static demonstration was also provided for the ARK (Aerial Rescue Kit) and SPARK (Small Pack Response Kit) which are the latest technologies used in aerial delivery rescue and survival equipment.

“We really felt this was a great opportunity to learn about products and have a better understanding of how they perform; something we can’t get in a brochure” said a Special Forces attendee who asked not to be named.

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Airborne Systems Demonstrates Modular Heavy Payload Autonomously Guided Ram-Air Parachute

YUMA, AZ, January 14, 2009 –Airborne Systems, a world leader in parachute design and manufacturing, announced they successfully completed a test drop deploying an 18,000 lb payload from 17,500 MSL under a modified modular ram-air parachute. This testing was conducted as part of a US Army Natick Soldier Research Development & Engineering Center development program to investigate the use of a modular design for precision guided airdrop of heavy payload systems.

Two of Airborne Systems’ products called MegaFly™ and GigaFly™, are designed to carry heavy payloads (15K to 42K lbs) using GPS navigation to “steer” bulk supplies, equipment or vehicles to an intended point of impact. Both systems are modular and are assembled using five separate sections. When the sections are connected together to form a single large parafoil wing, the combined size is close to the wingspan of a Boeing 747 (211-ft).

“One of the unique features of this design is the interchangeability of parafoil sections to function as a modular system” said Brian Bagdonovich, Program Manager, for the US Army Natick Soldier RD&E Center. The MegaFly™ parafoil was designed for 20-30K pound payloads. Using modular canopies to carry heavier loads, the MegaFly™ system can easily be converted to a GigaFly™ system by removing the 2,500 sq-ft center section of the MegaFly™ and replacing it with a 3,900 sq-ft center section. The benefit of this modular interchangeability is to allow the system to accommodate a higher payload up to a 42K pounds”.

“Conversely, the modular concept can also be applied to accommodate smaller payloads said Bagdonovich. By removing the center section of the MegaFly™, making it a four section parafoil instead of its typical five section configuration, the system will accommodate accurate delivery of payloads from 15K to 20K pounds”. The four section parafoil configuration was successfully demonstrated with an 18K pound payload. “From an Army standpoint, the concept of modularity is just as impressive as GigaFly’s ability to deliver high payload weights to a precise location” said Bagdonovich.

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