RAF Leads the way with Development of 'Ballistic' - High Altitude Parachute App

What started as a grassroots initiative by two RAF officers has evolved into a globally adopted operational tool, revolutionising the planning and execution of high-altitude parachuting missions.

During their tenure with the Royal Air Force’s Air Mobility Force, Squadron Leader Pete Kennedy and Flight Lieutenant Dan Leedham recognised a significant operational gap: the necessity for a faster, more precise, and user-friendly system to calculate parachute release points for high-altitude jumps. To address this need, they developed the initial versions of Ballistic, an Electronic Flight Bag (EFB) application specifically designed by aircrew for aircrew.

After initial success and approval for operational use within the RAF’s Air Mobility Force, it became clear that sustaining and scaling the capability would require dedicated support. RAF Digital's Software Factory Appivate stepped in to develop the project, working closely with Pete, Dan, and frontline aircrew to iteratively refine and expand the application. Through a process of spiral development—directly informed by operational users—Ballistic matured into a robust capability used across multiple aircraft types and mission profiles.

Ballistic provides crews with the capability to accurately determine the optimal release point for parachutists during high-altitude drops, irrespective of the aircraft type. This versatility is crucial for contemporary airborne operations, which require both precision and adaptability in response to diverse tactical and environmental challenges.

“This is grassroots innovation not only crossing the ‘valley of death’, but spanning the globe, which I’m extremely proud of the team at RAF Digital for. It shows what’s possible when we give our people the tools and empowerment to create capability, not just bolt it on from the outside.” Said Squadron Leader Kennedy

The tool's success has now reached beyond the UK. In June 2025, the Royal New Zealand Air Force entered into a two-year contract for Ballistic, incorporating this capability into their newly introduced C-130J fleet. This collaboration represents not only a significant export achievement but also an enhancement of allied interoperability between the UK and New Zealand.

"Through innovation, collaboration, and creativity, frontline operators supported by RAF Digital’s Appivate software delivery team have delivered a cutting-edge digital capability into the Air. Today, it is transforming operations and setting new standards of accuracy for high-altitude parachute insertions," said Dr Arif Mustafa, RAF's Director Digital and Chief Information Officer. "The benefit that BALLISTIC has delivered is receiving significant interest from our Allies. This is a testament to the power of digitalisation – to transform how we operate, and to project the RAF’s influence around the world."

Ballistic represents the operationally focused software developed by RAF Digital, an expanding ecosystem where frontline insights merge with digital expertise to create agile and effective solutions for the RAF and its allies. This software is crucial for personnel such as paratroopers and for critical operations like delivering humanitarian aid to remote locations. Precision is vital, and a key factor in achieving pinpoint accuracy is the calculation of wind conditions.

Project BALLISTIC is a wind calculator application designed for handheld devices, facilitating precise data calculations for air drops, including high-altitude parachuting. Its primary objectives are to improve accuracy and enhance safety for these critical operations. After the initial design phase, the application has been preliminarily tested on numerous parachute drops. A formal trial is anticipated to commence soon. Should the trial prove successful, the application may be evaluated for use as a high-altitude parachuting Computer Air Release Point calculator for all RAF aircraft.