Aerial Recovery System for SUAS and ALE (Image source: GA-ASI)
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) has achieved a significant milestone in the world of unmanned aviation, showcasing the remarkable capabilities of its Aerial Recovery System for Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems/Air-Launched Effects (SUAS/ALE).
On September 20, 2023, over Dugway Proving Ground, Utah, GA-ASI successfully demonstrated the deployment and retraction of a towline with a cutting-edge “smart end feature” from its MQ-20 Avenger Unmanned Aircraft System while in flight.
This groundbreaking demonstration showcased the seamless integration of a hoist from Breeze-Eastern, equipped with GA-ASI’s innovative smart end feature, into the payload bay of the Avenger.
Successful Integration of Smart End Feature
While the aircraft was in flight, the towline was expertly deployed to the ideal distance for aerial recovery.
What truly sets this achievement apart is the smart end feature’s ability to wirelessly transmit its precise position back to the Avenger, affirming its capacity to relay this data to nearby SUAS/ALEs for successful aerial recovery. This real-time position update matched GA-ASI’s multi-degree-of-freedom finite element catenary models, underscoring its potential for SUAS/ALE aerial recovery.
BREAKING: GA-ASI #AvengerUAS tests new aerial recovery system for small unmanned aircraft.
This recovery system will enable our large unmanned aircraft to recover and redeploy smaller ones, like Sparrowhawk, midflight.
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) has achieved a significant milestone in the world of unmanned aviation, showcasing the remarkable capabilities of its Aerial Recovery System for Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems/Air-Launched Effects (SUAS/ALE).
On September 20, 2023, over Dugway Proving Ground, Utah, GA-ASI successfully demonstrated the deployment and retraction of a towline with a cutting-edge “smart end feature” from its MQ-20 Avenger Unmanned Aircraft System while in flight.
This groundbreaking demonstration showcased the seamless integration of a hoist from Breeze-Eastern, equipped with GA-ASI’s innovative smart end feature, into the payload bay of the Avenger.
Successful Integration of Smart End Feature
While the aircraft was in flight, the towline was expertly deployed to the ideal distance for aerial recovery.
What truly sets this achievement apart is the smart end feature’s ability to wirelessly transmit its precise position back to the Avenger, affirming its capacity to relay this data to nearby SUAS/ALEs for successful aerial recovery. This real-time position update matched GA-ASI’s multi-degree-of-freedom finite element catenary models, underscoring its potential for SUAS/ALE aerial recovery.
BREAKING: GA-ASI #AvengerUAS tests new aerial recovery system for small unmanned aircraft.
This recovery system will enable our large unmanned aircraft to recover and redeploy smaller ones, like Sparrowhawk, midflight.
Mike Atwood, Vice President of Advanced Programs at GA-ASI, highlighted in a press release the groundbreaking progress made in “integrating air-launched unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) from Group 5” drones into an aerial recovery system. He emphasized that this achievement was made possible, in part, due to advancements in “relative navigation technology, complex towline analysis, and multi-aircraft control,” all of which were pioneered by the company.
“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,” Atwood added.
Revolutionizing Deployment and Mission Flexibility
The implications of this achievement extend far beyond the mere transportation of unmanned aircraft back to base.
The SUAS/ALE can be refueled, recharged, and rearmed, ready for redeployment. What sets this apart is that redeployment can occur directly from the host aircraft, allowing SUAS/ALEs to conduct their own orbits from airborne launch and recovery positions.
This aerial redeployment capability enables UAS like GA-ASI’s Avenger or MQ-9A Reaper to serve as mobile command centers for a network of SUAS/ALEs, creating a persistent and expansive grid for various mission profiles, including surveillance, electronic attack, enemy air defense suppression, communication pathways, and joint all-domain mobile command and control, all for extended periods ranging from days to weeks.
Breeze-Eastern’s commercial-off-the-shelf helicopter rescue hoists have played a pivotal role in this achievement. With performance capabilities that either meet or exceed system requirements, they offer a high Technology Readiness Level (TRL), presenting a low-risk solution to ensure SUAS/ALE aerial recovery.
Throughout the hoist integration and flight testing process, Breeze-Eastern provided crucial technical and logistical support.
Ian Azeredo, Breeze-Eastern’s Chief Engineer, praised GA-ASI’s accomplishments, stating:
“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.”
The Smart End Feature in Action
The concept of aerial recovery, as demonstrated by GA-ASI, is nothing short of revolutionary. It leverages a towline and smart end feature, which serves as both a beacon and a mechanical interface for aerial recovery.
The SUAS/ALE calculates its precise position relative to the smart end feature, enabling it to navigate into towline intercept with precision. It then executes a carefully coordinated maneuver to capture the end feature securely. Once attached to 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 then reels in the SUAS/ALE, bringing it to a captive carriage state where the two platforms return to base together.
An MQ-20 Avenger UAS flying in formation with Lockheed Martin’s Sabreliner and two F-5 Advanced Tigers (AT) from Tactical Air Support (Image source: GA-ASI)
This demonstration by GA-ASI represents a significant leap forward in the capabilities of unmanned aircraft systems. It opens up new possibilities for extended mission durations, increased operational flexibility, and enhanced capabilities in challenging environments.
As technology advances, the integration of air-launched UAS from Group 5 unmanned aircraft into operational scenarios will become increasingly viable, leading to innovative and more effective solutions for military and civilian applications.
Conclusion: A Glimpse into the Future
GA-ASI’s successful demonstration of its Aerial Recovery System for SUAS/ALE, featuring the deployment and retraction of a towline with a smart end feature, marks a significant advancement in the field of unmanned aviation. This breakthrough technology promises to enhance the capabilities of unmanned aircraft systems, enabling extended mission durations, increased operational flexibility, and improved effectiveness in various operational scenarios.
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As GA-ASI continues to push the boundaries of innovation in unmanned aviation, the future of aerial recovery looks promising, with far-reaching implications for military and civilian applications.
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