CAD/PAD, All Types

CAD/PAD All Types, is a critical budget line item that supports the procurement of safety-critical Cartridge Actuated Devices (CAD) and Propellant Actuated Devices (PAD) for rotary-winged Army aircraft. These devices are essential for aircraft escape, fire suppression, and jettison systems. The program ensures the availability of replacement items at specified intervals to maintain the operational readiness of the Army's aircraft fleet. The budget allocation for FY 2024 will be used to procure various CAD/PADs required for replacement due to limited shelf life and/or install life, supporting fleet requirements and ensuring adequate assets are available for operational readiness.

The specific goals and objectives of Program 2420E61000 include meeting the safety and operational requirements of the Army's rotary-winged aircraft by ensuring the availability of critical CAD/PAD devices. This includes supporting aircraft escape, fire suppression, and jettison systems. The program also aims to adhere to Department of Defense regulations and Army guidelines for munitions requirements processes, as well as supporting training and test requirements for both active and reserve component forces. Additionally, the program seeks to maintain a balance between procurement lead times, shelf/install life, and actual expenditures to ensure the availability of replacement items when needed or for mandatory time-change procedures to avoid grounding aircraft or rendering them partially mission capable.