Low Cost, Precision Aerial Dropsonde Delivery Vehicle

KaZaK Composites proposes development and demonstration of a stand-off, autonomous disposable unmanned vehicle that can deliver a variety of possible sensors along a GPS-controlled flight path extending up to 50 miles from its release point. KaZaK’s vehicle will be sized to carry and dispense multiple dropsondes to gather in-situ meteorological and oceanographic data over a widespread region in support of anti-submarine warfare (ASW) activities. KaZaK’s vehicle will greatly increase the ability of patrol aircraft to simultaneously track multiple targets located in various directions from the flight path, and permit the P-3, MMA and other launch platforms to operate at a safe standoff distance from the littoral waters that have become a primary location for potential future ASW conflict. The envisioned system will be launch-compatible with existing and future ASW platforms, and fit the A-size sonobuoy design envelope. The system will communicate via sonobuoy channels 1-99 for compatibility with current and future receivers. KaZaK will leverage our activities related to Navy and Air Force UAV development, and work with technology leaders in multiple fields to produce a successful system. Our teaming approach will minimize cost and risk, and allow rapid fielding of the envisioned enhanced dropsonde capability. BENEFITS: At the conclusion of a successful Phase I and II, the Navy will be in possession of a working, flight tested system, ready for Phase III activities involving more extensive testing and evaluation. The chief benefit of the proposed system will be a safer stand-off method of delivering multiple ASW sensors from Naval aircraft. Potential additional applications of the system extend into the commercial world in the areas of meteorological and oceanographic study. The system could prove very beneficial for obtaining data in areas which would normally pose an extreme danger to observation aircraft, such as collection of weather data inside storms and hurricanes, observation of conditions near active volcanoes, and flights into areas that would pose a health risk to the crew of manned vehicles (for example, near sites of accidental or intentional chemical, nuclear or biological release). As an intentionally disposable system, the vehicle could be sent on one-way missions, along with its payload, into areas that would be too risky to approach with more expensive reusable UAV systems.