G1-RADUAS: Group 1 Reconnaissance And Delivery Unmanned Aerial System

G1-RADUAS (Group 1 Reconnaissance And Delivery Unmanned Aircraft System) will utilize a Group 1 state of the art UAV to perform package pickup and delivery and Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) for United States Army Special Operations Forces missions. Phase 1 will conduct a feasibility study in order to determine what is in the art of the possible from a system requirements standpoint. This study will survey a variety of different configurations from Conventional Takeoff and Landing (CTOL) fixed wing aircraft to Vertical Takeoff and Landing (VTOL) rotary wing aircraft. For each configuration, various propulsion and energy storage options will be evaluated to determine the best option to maximize endurance while still meeting other requirements including but not limited to strict audio/visual signature levels during ISR operations. Special attention will be paid to designing and integrating a pickup and delivery system that can handle a variety of different size and weight external payloads. Phase 1 will conclude with an identification of the risks and potential payoffs of the various innovative options under investigation and a recommendation for the option that best exhibits current state of the art capability and achieves the best balance of performance and operational effectiveness for RADUAS.