Silent Arrow Contested Logistics System with 300 Nautical Mile Range (CLS-300)

This program is based on a successful SBIR I contract #FA864924P0308 wherein we established the feasibility of this concept by acquiring and testing the engine and propulsion system for the proposed autonomous capability as well as conducting aerodynamic analysis, fuel consumption and propeller selection analysis.  The objective of this project is to rapidly research, develop, prototype and test a derivative variant of the commercially successful Silent Arrow® platform specifically adapted for USAF and AFSOC mission requirements called the Silent Arrow CLS-300 (“Contested Logistics System, 300nm Range”).  This next generation, autonomous logistics platform will feature a purpose designed airframe with a newly integrated propulsion system capable of extending the range of the glider-only Silent Arrow by a factor of 8.3x (36 miles current glide standoff increasing to 300 nautical miles powered standoff range while carrying a 1,000-pound payload under this project).  This objective will be accomplished by conducting aerodynamic analysis of the proposed airframe design through digital modeling and computational fluid dynamics analysis, developing a drawing package for prototyping two flying test articles, building two full-scale aircraft and validating the payload and range performance via airdrop at our full-time flight test facility in Pendleton, Oregon under our FAA COA approvals.  Additional results will include developing a digital model of the CLS-300 in X-Plane software to enable software-in-the-loop mission simulations as well as TTP development and preparing to iterate the extended range design as necessary to progress forward to a program of record.