Paradigm Parachute & Defense

What Paradigm Parachute & Defense does

Paradigm Parachute and Defense Inc. is a privately held, service-disabled veteran-owned small business founded in 2019 in Pensacola, Florida, that designs, manufactures, and supports build-to-print parachute and airdrop systems for the U.S. Department of Defense, all branches of the U.S. Military, and international allied governments. Its core product portfolio spans cargo parachutes, extraction parachutes (15', 22', 28' sizes with payload capacities up to 30,000 lbs), Type V Airdrop Platform Systems (8–32 ft), the Advanced Cargo Parachute Release System (ACPRS) replacing the legacy M1, configurable timer/altimeter release systems (CTARS) for C-130 extraction deployment, next-generation SET-10/SET-10R steerable personnel parachutes, and a newly launched rugged wrist-mounted Smart Altimeter for tactical parachutists. Through its April 2024 acquisition of ASR-Pioneer, Airlift Technologies International (the only global OEM of the Type V platform), and Strong Enterprises — combined with Berry Amendment compliance, ISO 9001:2015 certification, and DoD Approved Contractor status (CAGE: 8DT39) — the company occupies a qualified position in the federal parachute supply chain, supported by a Mobile Training Team of FAA-certified retired military riggers delivering four course types on-site at customer locations.

The business model rests on multi-year DoD and allied-government procurement contracts fulfilled via direct sales, supplemented by hardware sales and fee-for-service training delivered through the Mobile Training Team. Revenue is derived from fulfillment of a multi-million-dollar contract backlog spanning cargo airdrop, personnel parachuting, aircraft recovery, deceleration, and munitions applications; the company also sells to international humanitarian logistics customers via the South Asian channel opened through its 2024 IDEAS exhibition partnership with Aerospike Innovative Solutions. All parachute products are manufactured at the Pensacola, Florida facility (with acquired Mississippi operations) and are Berry Amendment compliant and American-made; the company has financed growth through a $2.25 million acquisition payment and $1.75 million in senior secured notes rather than equity, indicating operational self-sufficiency, and has tripled headcount since 2020 with further expansion funded by an Industry Resilience and Diversification Fund grant.

Name

Paradigm Parachute & Defense

Legal name

Paradigm Parachute and Defense Inc.

Website

https://paradigmparachute.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Paradigm Parachute & Defense is a service-disabled veteran-owned manufacturer of precision military-style parachute and airdrop systems — including cargo, extraction, personnel, and deceleration parachutes — serving the U.S. Department of Defense, all military branches, and international allied governments.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Military Parachute Manufacturing

NAICS

Aircraft Manufacturing (336411), Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Manufacturing (336414), Search, Detection, Navigation, Guidance, Aeronautical, and Nautical System and Instrument Manufacturing (334511)

SIC

Aircraft Parts & Auxiliary Equipment, Nec (3728)

akta.pro primary industry

Reentry, Descent & Landing Systems (Capsules, Heat Shields, Parachutes) (IMABACAL)

Keywords

• Military parachute systems
• Airdrop delivery equipment
• Defense parachute manufacturing
• Personnel cargo parachutes
• Airborne operations equipment

Headquarters

HQ city

Pensacola

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Military Parachute Systems Sales: Paradigm generates revenue by manufacturing and selling cargo, personnel, extraction, aerial delivery, deceleration, and munitions parachute systems to the U.S. Department of Defense, all branches of the U.S. Military, and international allied governments. Revenue is derived from fulfillment of multi-million-dollar contract backlogs with government and defense clients.
2. Humanitarian Parachute Systems: Sale of parachute products for humanitarian airdrop operations to government and private international clients, driven by increasing global demand for humanitarian logistics solutions.
3. Training Services: Paradigm generates revenue through mobile training team services, offering Advanced Airdrop & Parachute Rigger Courses, Personnel Parachute Packing Courses, Special Operation Equipment Airdrop Courses, and Joint Airdrop Inspector Courses. Courses are taught by retired U.S. Army Riggers and Air Force Load Masters. Participants receive Paradigm Parachute certificates upon completion.
4. Defense Products Manufacturing: Expanded product line through acquisition includes manufacture of an array of defense products beyond parachutes, leveraging combined expertise of Airlift Technologies International, Strong Enterprises, and ASR-Pioneer operations integrated into Paradigm's portfolio.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Paradigm Parachute and Defense is a Service Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business that precision-manufactures cargo, personnel, extraction, and deceleration parachute systems, Type V aerial delivery platforms, and rigging items for the U.S. Department of Defense, all branches of the U.S. Military, and international allied governments. The company also manufactures a next-generation wrist-mounted smart altimeter for tactical parachutists, and delivers airdrop and parachute rigger training through a Mobile Training Team of retired military instructors.

Product overview

Paradigm Parachute and Defense Inc. is a disabled veteran-owned small business that provides high-quality, precision manufactured parachute products to global commercial and government customers. The company operates as a manufacturer of cargo, personnel, extraction, and deceleration parachute systems, along with aerial delivery equipment and rigging items. The core product portfolio includes: Cargo Parachutes for military and commercial airdrop; Extraction Parachutes in 15', 22', and 28' sizes; Type V Aerial Delivery Platforms ranging from 8ft to 32ft; Personnel Parachutes including the Next-Gen SET-10 series; Deceleration and Recovery Systems; and an extensive catalog of Rigging Items including the Advanced Cargo Parachute Release System (ACPRS). The company expanded its offerings through the $2.25 million acquisition of ASR-Pioneer assets, including Airlift Technologies International (Type V Airdrop Platform System OEM) and Strong Enterprises. Paradigm also offers a next-generation Smart Altimeter for tactical parachutists and provides training services through a Mobile Training Team of retired military personnel. All products are Berry Amendment compliant, American-made, and ISO 9001:2015 certified.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Cargo Parachutes High-quality, precision-manufactured cargo parachute products for military and commercial airdrop operations, serving the Department of Defense and international clients.
• Extraction Parachutes Extraction parachutes in 15', 22', and 28' sizes with flat, circular, ring slot canopies for low velocity airdrop (LVADS) and high-velocity container airdrops, with load capacities from 2,250 lbs to 30,000 lbs.
• Type V Aerial Delivery Equipment Type V Airdrop Platform System available in 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 28, and 32 ft sizes used on Type V, DRAS, and Combat Expendable (CEP) platforms, including tiedown clevis, extraction bracket assemblies, EFTA brackets, and tandem and suspension link assemblies.
• Rigging Items Airdrop and parachute rigging equipment including the Advanced Cargo Parachute Release System (ACPRS), clevises, link assemblies, release straps, ratchet assemblies, tie-downs, skids, slings, deployment lines, multi-loops, and airdrop containers (A-7A, A-22), with many items carrying NSN numbers for military procurement.
• Personnel Parachutes (SET-10 Series) Next-Gen SET-10 and SET-10R steerable round main canopies engineered for airborne operations to put paratroopers safely on the ground from lower exit altitudes, configurable with 26 FT Military Lo-Po or 30 FT Lo-Po canopies for a wide range of exit weights and deployment speeds.
• Deceleration & Recovery Systems Parachute systems for space, aircraft recovery, deceleration, and munitions applications serving all branches of the U.S. Military and international allied governments.
• Mobile Training Team and Training Courses Mobile Training Team delivering Advanced Airdrop & Parachute Rigger Courses, Personnel Parachute Packing Courses, Special Operation Equipment Airdrop Courses, and Joint Airdrop Inspector Courses taught by retired U.S. Army Riggers and Air Force Load Masters holding FAA Senior or Master Rigger certifications and military instructor qualifications; participants receive Paradigm Parachute certificates upon completion.
• Paradigm Smart Altimeter Rugged wrist-mounted smart display altimeter built for tactical parachutists, with full-color display, reprogrammable user-group profiles, digital and hybrid analog display modes, rapid daylight/night-vision optics switching, real-time rate of descent, atmospheric pressure, supplemental O2 alerts, and time-to-ground estimates; aluminum and high-strength polymer housing, -1,500 to 35,000+ feet MSL operating range, field-replaceable CR123A battery, self-calibrating sensors, water-resistant up to 3 meters for 30 minutes, and time/date-stamped jump logs.

Named customers8 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.

• Aerospike Innovative Solutions (PVT) LTDflagshipGTM or Marketing Partner · 30 September 2024Paradigm partnered with Aerospike Innovative Solutions for the 12th edition of IDEAS 2024 (International Defence Exhibition and Seminar) held in Karachi, Pakistan. The collaboration combines both companies' strengths to present an enhanced portfolio of defense solutions for modern military operations, focusing on integrated solutions for air, ground, and operational platforms. IDEAS is one of the largest defense exhibitions in the region.
• FloridaWest Economic Development AlliancecoreOthers · 20 January 2023FloridaWest, in partnership with the University of West Florida, helped Paradigm obtain a grant from the Industry Resilience and Diversification Fund. This regional economic development program distributed grant funding to businesses creating jobs in Northwest Florida. FloridaWest CEO Scott Luth worked directly with Paradigm's founders to facilitate funding for the company's growth.
• University of West Florida (UWF)coreOthers · 20 January 2023UWF, in collaboration with FloridaWest, managed the Industry Resilience and Diversification Fund — a regional economic development program with the goal of distributing $10 million in funding to businesses seeking to create jobs in Northwest Florida. UWF facilitated grant administration and program management for the fund that supported Paradigm's expansion.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• BRS Aerospace: BRS Aerospace manufactures whole-aircraft parachute recovery systems for general aviation and military UAVs. Comparable as a specialist aerial recovery parachute company overlapping with Paradigm's Deceleration & Recovery product line.
• Butler Parachute Systems: Butler Parachute Systems manufactures military and tactical parachutes, rigging components, and aerial delivery equipment for U.S. and allied forces. Closely comparable as a U.S.-based DoD parachute supplier competing for overlapping program business.
• Atair Aerospace: Atair Aerospace designs and manufactures precision airdrop systems, including guided parafoils and recovery systems for DoD and commercial customers. Highly comparable as a niche U.S. aerial-delivery and parachute OEM serving similar end markets.
• Para-Phernalia: Para-Phernalia is a U.S. parachute manufacturer producing military personnel, cargo, and skydiving parachutes. Comparable as a small/mid-sized U.S. parachute OEM competing in overlapping military and commercial segments.
• Mills Manufacturing: Mills Manufacturing is a U.S. textile and sewn-products manufacturer serving DoD and aerospace customers with parachutes, aviation gear, and tactical equipment. Comparable as a U.S.-based Berry Amendment-compliant defense sewing manufacturer.
• Pioneer Aerospace: Pioneer Aerospace is a legacy parachute and aerial delivery hardware manufacturer, historically associated with the Type V platform program and other military airdrop hardware. Comparable as a historical direct competitor whose capabilities are now partly consolidated under Paradigm via the ASR-Pioneer acquisition.
• Strong Enterprises: Strong Enterprises is a personnel and military parachute manufacturer now operating as a brand within Paradigm following the ASR-Pioneer acquisition. Directly comparable as a legacy peer in military personnel parachute systems.
• Airborne Systems: Airborne Systems is one of the largest global parachute and aerial delivery system manufacturers, producing cargo, personnel, and extraction parachutes for DoD, allied militaries, and commercial markets. Directly comparable to Paradigm across the full military parachute product portfolio.
• Survival Equipment Corporation: Survival Equipment Corporation manufactures military and commercial parachute systems, life support, and aerial delivery equipment. Comparable as a smaller U.S. parachute OEM serving overlapping DoD and humanitarian markets.

Broad incumbents

• Collins Aerospace (RTX): Collins Aerospace, part of RTX, supplies avionics, aerial delivery guidance, and mission systems for military and commercial aircraft. Comparable as a much larger established aerospace incumbent with overlapping cargo/aerial-delivery systems capabilities and broader portfolio.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/paradigmparachute

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds3 records

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Paradigm Parachute & Defense