A mobile app developed by Northrop Grumman Corporation that quickly calculates transportation requirements for large quantities of operational rations is available for free through the Apple App Store.

The container calculator, or CCALC-I, helps defence logisticians, supply chain planners and others determine the number of pallets, containers and transports needed to move a user-defined amount of provisions.

The mobile app employs a small database that quickly calculates the total weight and determines the number of pallets, air pallets, and 20-and 40-foot containers, called transportation equivalent units (TEUs), needed to move the user-defined requirement. The app’s home screen allows the user to select from 19 different ration types – including meals, ready to eat (MREs), humanitarian daily rations (HDRs) or bottled water – and enter the quantity of cases required. The app then calculates the weight and TEUs, and provides the different options in quantities of pallets, containers, airframes, helicopters and ground vehicles needed to move the required rations. The output can be e-mailed in a text file.

Hammond said the app’s mobility frees users from ties to a desktop or laptop computer and any need for Department of Defense (DOD) network connectivity. The task it addresses enables logisticians and planners to be more efficient, which benefits the DOD supply chain.