Glide Away Precision Sonobuoy

STARA Technologies is the leading developer of miniature guided parachutes. Over the past ten years STARA has fabricated light weight guided parachute systems for the US Army, Department of Defense, Department of Energy and other Federal Agencies to precisely deliver light weight payloads, such as, Provider Resupply Pods deployed from an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), communications relays, medical supplies, intelligent munitions, and sensors of various kinds. In related work, guided parachutes were used to deliver cylindrical payloads (5 inch diameter, 30 inch length, 40 pound weight) dropped from an UAV to a landing accuracy of 50 meters CEP (circular error probability). The parachute and guidance unit used for cylindrical payloads are housed in a 5 inch diameter, 12 inch length fiberglass tube. A natural extension of the guided parachute aerial delivery system will satisfy requirements of SBIR Topic N102-117, Glide Away Precision Sonobuoy with low risk. Using the same guided parachute system components, matched to a rectangular payload, bundles were dropped from 25,000 feet with a landing accuracy of 36 meter CEP. Using a 6:1 glide parachute, dropped from 25,000 feet will glide 25 NM and place a 40 pound sonobuoy within 50 meter CEP of the intended impact point.