Ballistic Recovery Systems, the maker of airframe parachutes for many general aviation aircraft, recently scored its second major defense contract. The Army recently awarded the company a $4.1 million contract for 1,200 parachutes that will allow drops of pallets of cargo under a 65-foot canopy, according to a news release from BRS. The contract could be extended for an additional 1,500 parachutes and a total value of $9.2 million. Since receiving the contract, BRS says it will start hiring more workers, bringing its total staff to 95. While BRS has been making parachutes for almost 30 years, it is new to the defense business. Its airframe parachutes have been a hallmark of every Cirrus plane; the company makes aftermarket versions for many other aircraft models as well.