General Atomics Tests Aerial Recovery System for Small UAS

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) has advanced its Aerial Recovery System for Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems/Air-Launched Effects (SUAS/ALE).

This involved the deployment and retraction of a towline with a groundbreaking "smart end feature" from the GA-ASI MQ-20 Avenger Unmanned Aircraft System during flight. The remarkable demonstration occurred on September 20, 2023, above Dugway Proving Ground in Utah.

The key highlight of this demonstration was the integration of a hoist from Breeze-Eastern, equipped with GA-ASI's smart end feature, into the Avenger's payload bay. While in mid-flight, the towline extended away from the Avenger to the ideal distance for aerial recovery. Notably, the smart end feature was capable of wirelessly transmitting its position back to the Avenger, confirming its ability to relay crucial data to a nearby SUAS/ALE for aerial recovery. The position of the smart end feature in its "deployed" state aligned perfectly with GA-ASI's sophisticated multi-degree-of-freedom finite element catenary models, reinforcing its potential for SUAS/ALE aerial recovery.

Beyond just returning to base while attached, the SUAS/ALE has the remarkable ability to be refueled, recharged, and/or rearmed before being redeployed. This redeployment can occur from the host aircraft, allowing SUAS/ALEs to perform their own orbits from airborne launch and recovery positions. Aerial redeployment transforms UAS like GA-ASI's Avenger or MQ-9A Reaper into mobile command centers for a network of SUAS/ALEs, enabling persistent, expansive grid operations for surveillance, electronic attack, enemy air defense suppression, communication pathways, and joint all-domain mobile command and control lasting for days or even weeks.

Breeze-Eastern's commercial-off-the-shelf helicopter rescue hoists played a pivotal role in this achievement, meeting or exceeding system requirements and providing a high Technology Readiness Level (TRL). Their involvement ensures a low-risk solution for SUAS/ALE aerial recovery. Breeze-Eastern provided essential technical and logistical support throughout the hoist integration and flight-testing phases.

This aerial recovery concept employs a towline and smart end feature, acting as both a beacon and mechanical interface for aerial recovery. The SUAS/ALE calculates its precise position relative to the smart end feature, allowing for navigation into towline intercept, followed by a maneuver to capture the end feature. Once securely attached to the towline, the SUAS/ALE folds its wings and shuts off its engine to become a passively stable towed body. A podded hoist on the capital ship then reels in the SUAS/ALE, bringing both platforms safely back to the base.