Model 1 Skychute

The Model 1 Skychute, also known simply as the Skychute, was a model of enhanced military parachutes manufactured by Mitrinomon Transports and used by the Grand Army of the Republic's clone paratrooper units. Following the Clone Wars, some mercenary companies also used these parachutes in their operations and later variants were used by New Republic forces.

The Model 1 Skychute was initially designed for use by the Republic Judicial Forces as early as 40 BBY, though production was delayed for almost two decades and was eventually repurposed for the GAR.

Characteristics
The Skychute's parachute was contained with a "backpack"-shaped metal container, which was designed to be mounted via magnetic rings on the back plate of phase II clone trooper (airborne variant). The parachute was connected to numerous sensors and safety systems that timed and coordinated a parachute's deployment. Upon landing, the parachute could be retracted into the container and re-used indefinitely, though a replaceable power cell was required to power the Skychute's electrical components. Paratroopers were also typically equipped with magnetic grappling guns to help direct the parachute during a landing. Clone paratroopers were typically deployed as high as five kilometers in the air and had a three-kilometer-long free-fall before deploying the Skychute.

The parachute itself was comprised of interlaced nylon and magnesium threads and was very small in comparison to traditional parachutes (which date back to over 20,000 BBY) though were much more effective and reliable. Similar enhanced parachutes have been in use by Republic armed services since at least 250 BBY, though the Skychute was unique for its incorporation of computer software into their parachute systems.

Variants

 * During the early Imperial era, the Model 2 Skychute was developed by the Imperial Airborne Development Committee, which consisted of Imperial military researchers as well as Mitrinomon Transports executives. A shipment containing at least 5,000 Model 2 Skychutes, among other military-grade cargo, was sent to the Imperial Commando Special Unit's command center on Coruscant, however was intercepted and attacked by pirates while en route. Many of the Model 2 Skychutes were stolen and later ended up in the hands of mercenaries through the black market, and the overall project was abandoned by Imperial researchers. It was rumored that Mitrinomon Transports continued to secretly supply Skychutes to the black market to maintain their profits. During the Galactic Civil War, over 2,000 Rebel soldiers were deployed from the sky via the stolen Model 2 Skychutes during a failed operation on Bompreil.
 * In 6 ABY, Mitrinomon Transports developed the Model 3 Skychute, which was similar to the Model 1 though also contained a small repulsorlift generator, which assisted the operator in landings. The New Republic Army's Airborne Infantry Service (who operated in conjunction with the New Republic Navy's Orbital Deployment troopers) ordered over 7,000 Model 3 Skychutes, which were used at multiple notable campaigns.
 * In 19 BBY, Mitrinomon Transports began distributing the Model 4 Skychute to New Republic special forces. This was believed to be their last Skychute model, though the Model 4A and Model 4B Skychutes also had a limited appearance among New Republic forces.
 * Although not a parachute system, the Mitrinomon Orbital Skypod (MOS-Pod), which was an infantry drop pod designed for deployment from space, was often nicknamed the "Skychute Pod" by the many few who used it. Orbital Skypods were introduced in 18 BBY and were very briefly used by the Imperial Stormtrooper Corps' Novatrooper program, although Mitrinomon drop pods were abandoned shortly after in favor of the All Terrain Rapid Deployment Pods (AT-RDP) manufactured by Rothana Heavy Engineering. Like other abandoned Mitrinomon products, some MOS-Pods were acquired by mercenary units through the black market. A few governments outside of the Galactic Empire also purchased the MOS-Pod design for their own airborne infantry. MOS-Pods lacked the maneuverability and armor rating of AT-RDPs, hence their very short-lived popularity among Imperial forces.