High altitude, low opening (HALO) is a free-fall insertion method where personnel jump from an aircraft at altitudes up to 35,000 feet and deploy their parachutes at a low altitude, typically below 4,000 feet. This minimizes the time the jumper spends under the canopy, reducing their radar signature and vulnerability to ground fire. Jumpers require supplemental oxygen and specialized thermal gear to survive the exit conditions.
Heard on the job
The special forces team executed a HALO jump at 0200 to slip past the border radar installations.