Accelerator-Based Launcher for Shipboard Systems

LeVanta Tech is developing the HALIA, a first of its kind sea-launched aerial drone.  The HALIA provides a persistent sea-air interface capable of high-speed flight with low detectability.  HALIA fills the gap in current technology.  Aerial drones have limited flight time and cannot stably float on the water.  Even helicopters and seaplanes cannot land on the ocean and float in rough seas. Subsea and surface vessel drones can have endurance but are slow.  The HALIA conserves power while floating and can fly at high speed as needed. The HALIA makes an ideal sea-launched drone carrier.  With a payload capability of 30-40 lbs., the HALIA Group 3 could carry a tube-launched Group 1 UAS (such as the Switchblade® 300 systems).  The HALIA Group 3 can be deployed from a vessel, fly 70+ km, land on the ocean, wait until activated to deploy the Group 1 UAS, and then fly back to the vessel for refuel and reload.  A vessel outfitted with several HALIA Group 3 could maintain a continuous “picket line” of HALIAs 70+ km from the vessel.  The “picket line” of HALIAs can reposition or return to the vessel as the vessel moves.  Beneficially, the HALIA Group 3 can handle the weight and power consumption of SATCOM. The HALIA provides a communication link between the vessel and the launched Group 1 UAS.  Instead of “fire and forget,” the HALIA Group 3 can maintain line of sight communications with the Group 1 UAS, allowing control of the Group 1 UAS from the vessel.  The HALIA can pop-up to low-altitude flight to maintain communications with launched Group 1 UAS.  Additionally, operators have the option to reposition the HALIA as battlespace conditions change.  Furthermore, the HALIA Group 3 can do more than just launch and communicate with multiple small drones.  The HALIA can be configured to carry its own sensor suite and also deploy UUV as well as UAS. The HALIA Group 3 would weigh less than 1,000 lbs. and be deployed from the vessel to the water with a standard davit or crane.   The HALIA Group 3 can collapse to a small footprint when in storage on a vessel but also be quickly assembled with limited manpower and equipment. The assembled HALIA Group 3 would likely be 10-13 feet in length and width, making it suitable for deployment from many naval vessels.A HALIA Group 2 proof of concept prototype is currently undergoing sea trials.  A HALIA Group 3 battery electric version is being developed for the U.S. Air Force.  The Air Force HALIA is designed to persist for at least 30 days in rough seas and maintain enough power to fly and perform vessel target discrimination when activated.  Computational modeling and wind tunnel testing indicate we can develop a hybrid version of the HALIA Group 3 capable of flying over 140 km (to and from the vessel) carrying 30-40 lbs. of payload, land and takeoff from the ocean one or more times, and persist on the ocean as needed.