Types of parachutes and UAV airbags
The system families a recovery, delivery or protection system is assembled from — canopy, airbag, release mechanism.
- 01
Super-pressure and helium balloons
We offer super-pressure and helium balloons, with design parameters agreed for each application.
- 02
Deceleration and braking parachutes
Deceleration parachutes slow a payload from high-speed descent to a stable, controlled sink rate until it reaches the ground.
- 03
Gliding parachutes
Gliding parachutes generate drag and lift at once: they sink more slowly and travel horizontally instead of simply descending.
- 04
Ram-air parachutes
Ram-air parachutes carry a full aerodynamic profile with upper and lower surfaces and fly as a wing — with glide performance and control.
- 05
Drone airbags for UAV recovery
Airbags absorb impact energy and are most commonly used on unmanned platforms that land under a parachute without traditional landing gear.
- 06
Cargo parachutes
Cargo parachutes deliver equipment, supplies and sensitive payloads to the ground safely and accurately.
- 07
Release mechanisms
Release mechanisms disconnect the parachute from the payload immediately after touchdown so wind cannot drag the platform across the ground.
- 08
Inflatables and drone landing pads
Inflatable structures take their shape from internal pressure and internal support ribs — engineered properly, that yields light, compact parts.
- 09
UAV crash pads for ground landing
Crash pads (impact attenuators) are energy-absorbing systems that protect valuable payloads by dissipating impact forces during ground landing.
- 10
Ultralight parachutes, low packed volume
Weight and packed volume are finite on every platform. This family finds the reserves in material, geometry and hardware.
- 11
Drone nets and ballistic net solutions
Net systems answer two different requirements: recovering or capturing a flying asset — or shielding a protected asset against a defined impact.
- 12
ISR tactical ram-air parachute system
A fully specified tactical ram-air canopy: elliptical 19-cell planform, glide ratio 1:4.5, ultra-light fabric at 24 g/m².
- 13
Human-rated certification
Where an application or customer requires human-rated certification not currently defined by the authorities, we can offer certification aligned with EN standards.
Source: apcodefense.com (APCO Aviation), as of 25 September 2026.
Asked in technical terms.
What types of recovery and protection systems are there?
We manufacture gliding and ram-air parachutes, deceleration and cargo parachutes, airbags, release mechanisms, ballistic nets, inflatable structures with landing pads, and crash pads for ground landing. The range also includes ultralight low-volume systems and human-rated certification services. Selection depends on the platform and payload.
What determines the choice of system?
The platform, the payload and the operating environment. Decisive factors are mass and speed at deployment, the available installation space, the permissible packing volume, and whether people are carried. These figures determine whether a parachute, an airbag or a combination of both is suitable.