Aerial Target Inductive Link

To ensure operational capabilities of current and next-generation aerial weapons systems, the U.S. Navy leverages autonomous subsonic aerial target (SSAT) systems that provide realistic threat representations. These advanced drone systems offer support for a variety of mission requirements via integrated subsystems that can be customized to emulate any aerial target scenario. To enable programmability of internal SSAT subsystems without the need for target disassembly, Luna proposes to build upon Phase I efforts wherein a wireless inductive power and communications link was designed, prototyped, and demonstrated. By teaming with Micro Systems Incorporated (MSI), a wholly owned subsidiary of the BQM-177A SSAT developer Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Luna will refine, develop, qualify, and demonstrate a solution that provides programmability of SSAT subsystems. The developed solution will not require disassembly of the target’s outer shell and eliminates the need for physical, hard-wired access to subsystem connectors, mitigating the time, manpower, and sustainability issues associated with SSAT shell removal. By integrating the technology into the BQM-177A, subsystem programming can be performed at any point prior to, and potentially after, system deployment while leaving the SSAT in an immediately deployable state.