A Fine Catch …

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) has demonstrated an advancement in its Aerial Recovery System (ARS) for Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems/Air-Launched Effects (SUAS/ALE).

Subject advancement comprises the in-flight deployment and subsequent retraction of a towline fitted with a so-called smart end feature from a GA-ASI MQ-20 Avenger Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS).

During the ARS system demonstration—conducted 20 September over Utah’s Dugway Proving Ground—a hoist manufactured by Breeze-Eastern and equipped with GA-ASI’s aforementioned smart end feature was integrated into a MQ-20 Avenger’s payload bay. While the UAS was in flight, the towline was deployed to the optimal distance for aerial recovery. The smart end feature wirelessly transmitted its position back to the MQ-20, thereby confirming the gadget’s ability to transmit mission-critical data to a nearby SUAS/ALE for aerial recovery. The smart end feature’s deployed position correlated to GA-ASI’s multi-degree-of-freedom finite element catenary models—thus verifying its potential for SUAS/ALE aerial recovery.

The term catenary denotes a curve formed by a wire, rope, or chain hanging freely from two points and forming a U shape—after the fashion of overhead power-lines or the velvet-rope-barriers between which people queued in a bygone era characterized by movies worth seeing.

GA-ASI vice-president of advanced programs Mike Atwood stated: “Integrating air-launched UAS from Group 5 unmanned aircraft is possible, in part, thanks to advances in relative navigation technology, complex towline analysis, and multi-aircraft control being pioneered by GA-ASI. We are excited to see this technology enable long-range kill chains from today’s manned and unmanned systems supporting operations in highly contested environments.”

Beyond simple captive carry back to base, the SUAS/ALE can be refueled, recharged, and/or rearmed, and redeployed. Redeployment can occur from the host aircraft, enabling SUAS/ALEs to conduct discrete orbits from airborne launch and recovery positions. Aerial redeployment allows UAS such as GA-ASI’s Avenger or MQ-9A Reaper to serve as mobile command centers for a network of SUAS/ALEs in a persistent, expansive grid for surveillance, electronic attack, enemy air defense suppression, communication pathways, or joint all-domain mobile command-and-control for days or weeks on end.

In addition to being the world’s only dedicated maker of helicopter hoists and winches, Whippany, New Jersey-based Breeze-Eastern Corporation is the globe’s second-largest producer of cargo hook systems. The company focuses on engineered equipment for specialty aerospace/defense applications. Breeze-Eastern also manufactures weapons handling systems and tie-down equipment for military and civilian agencies. The performance and capabilities of the company’s commercial-off-the-shelf helicopter rescue hoists meet or exceed U.S. military system requirements, provide a high Technology Readiness Level (TRL), and offer a low-risk solution ensuring successful SUAS/ALE aerial recovery. Throughout the described hoist integration and flight testing, Breeze-Eastern provided technical and logistical support.

Breeze-Eastern chief engineer Ian Azeredo remarked: “With this milestone demonstration, GA-ASI has once again awed the aerospace industry. The professionalism and surgical ingenuity shown in the integration phase by the Aerial Recovery team all but guarantee future program success.”

GA-ASI’s novel aerial recovery concept utilizes a towline and a smart end feature which serves as a beacon and mechanical interface for aerial recovery. The SUAS/ALE calculates its precise position relative the smart end feature for navigation to towline intercept, followed by a maneuver conducive to capturing the end feature. Once secure on the towline, the SUAS/ALE folds its wings and stops its engine, transitioning into a passively stable towed body. A podded hoist aboard the capital ship reels in the SUAS/ALE to a captive carriage state in which the two platforms return, together, to base.

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems is an affiliate of General Atomics, the San Diego-based technology concern specializing in the research, development, and fielding of technologies germane to nuclear fission and nuclear fusion energy. The company also produces airborne sensors and advanced electric, electronic, wireless, and laser technologies, as well as battle-tested Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) such as the MQ-1 Predator, MQ-1C Gray Eagle, MQ-20 Avenger, and the ubiquitous MQ-9 Reaper platforms. Collectively, GA-ASI RPA have logged upwards of eight-million flight-hours.

FMI: www.ga-asi.com