Methods and apparatus for multi-role air-launched small unmanned aircraft systems (SUAS) and loitering munition
Techniques and systems are provided for the deployment of small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAS) and Loitering Munitions (LM) from an airborne Small Tactical Unmanned Aircraft System (STUAS).
1. An apparatus comprising:
a Family of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (FoUAS) platform configured to perform multi-role precision strike, decoy, and ISR operations from a standoff range with the ability to function as a single agent or a swarm team,
wherein the FoUAS includes 1) a low-cost attritable, reusable, and agile Small Tactical Unmanned Aircraft System (STUAS) mothership. 2) Group 1 asymmetric or symmetric Loitering Munitions (LMs), and 3) Group 1 asymmetric or symmetric small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAS),
the STUAS mothership having a maximum takeoff weight (MTOW) of 88 pounds to 110 pounds, and configured to equip internal payloads including an EO/IR camera or seekers, stereo vision sensors, 2D or 3D Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) sensors, a low-cost 3D airborne radar, and a lightweight SATCOM, and reflecting a small Radar Cross-Section (RCS); the STUAS mothership being configured to be autonomously guided via GPS or semi-autonomously guided via a single or multiple Pilots in Command (PICs), and wherein the STUAS mothership is further configured to fly to an area while carrying external payloads and release the external payloads while airborne and is operable to fly independent of the external payloads and after their release the external payloads including the Group 1 LMs and the Group 1 sUAS,
wherein the Group 1 LMs are configured as a Precision Strike Loitering Munitions (PSLMs) reflecting a small RCS and having a small electric motor or small jet engine, the Group 1 LMs are configurable with Commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) onboard companion computer, having built-in Reinforcement Learning (RL) and Machine Vision (MV) algorithms processing in real-time the inputs gathered by a combination of onboard EO/IR seekers, stereo vision sensors, 2D LiDAR; used for terminal homing guidance along with searching, identifying, and tracking multiple aerial or ground targets autonomously, and wherein the PSLM is configured to be equipped with proximity warhead options including at least one of High Explosive Fragmentation (HEF), Fuel Air Explosive (FAE), and High-explosive anti-tank (HEAT) warheads depending on the type of target and mission,
wherein the Group 1 sUAS are configured as Small Air Launched Decoys (SALD) with a large RCS having interchangeable payload including reflectors, chaff, and luneburg lens to deceive the enemy's fire control radars.
2. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the STUAS mothership includes aluminum alloy racks located onder each wing of the STUAS mothership
wherein Group 1 asymmetric or symmetric payloads including SUAS and LMs, are air-launched as a result of free-fall via gravity from the aluminum alloy racks during a second phase in each mission implemented in accordance with the teachings of this disclosure.
3. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the Family of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (FoUAS) platform is configured to operate as a single agent to execute Suppression/Destruction of Enemy Air Defense (SEAD/DEAD) missions, in which at least two Group 1 asymmetric payloads including a sUAS acting as Small Air Launched Decoy (SALD), and a LM acting as Precision Strike Loitering Munition (PSLM) are used against Integrated Air Defense Systems (IADS).
4. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the Family of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (FoUAS) platform is configured to operate as a swarm team to execute Suppression/Destruction of Enemy Air Defense (SEAD/DEAD) missions, in which at least a first FoUAS platform comprised of one mothership carrying symmetric payloads including two Group 1 SUAS are used as a SALD/decoys flying ahead to conduct SEAD, with the mothership equipped with a proximity warhead is used to conduct DEAD against Integrated Air Defense Systems (IADS),
wherein, a second FoUAS platform comprised of one mothership carries symmetric payloads including two Group 1 LMs acting as PSLMs are used for strike while the mothership is used to conduct damage assessment and ISR activities of the enemy's assets surrounding the IADS site.
5. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the Family of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (FoUAS) platform is configured to operate as a single agent to conduct High Value Targeting (HVT) missions and Multi-Domain Operations (MDO) between air and land forces, in which at least two symmetric payloads including two Group 1 LMs acting as PSLMs used to conduct cooperative strike operations against enemy's SHORAD systems, tanks, armored vehicles, and ground troops, while continuing to utilize the STUAS mothership for close-range ISR/RSTA operations.
6. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the Family of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (FoUAS) platform is configured to operate as a swarm team to conduct High Value Targeting (HVT) missions and Multi-Domain Operations (MDO) between air and land forces, in which at least two STUAS motherships each carrying at least two Group 1 LMs acting as PSLMs to conduct cooperative strike operations against enemy's short-range air defense (SHORAD) systems, tanks, armored vehicles, and ground troops, while continuing to utilize both STUAS motherships for joint ISR/RSTA operations.
7. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the Family of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (FoUAS) platform is configured to operate as a member of manned-unmanned teaming (MUM-T) to conduct Close Air Support (CAS) missions, in which Combat Systems Officers (CSO) or co-pilots of military fighters and helicopters act as PICs with the ability to guide and control multiple FoUAS platforms in synergistic combat and collaborative operations during high-risk missions while achieving greater air superiority (AS).
8. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the Family of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (FoUAS) platform is configured to operate as a single agent in Counter-Unmanned Air System (C-UAS) operations, in which at least two jet-powered Group 1 LMs are air-launched and used as a C-UAS tactical technique to intercept and defeat (hit-to kill) a single Low, Slow and Small (LSS) UAS threat.
9. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the Family of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (FoUAS) platform is configured to operate as a swarm team in Counter-Unmanned Air System (C-UAS) operations, in which at least two STUAS motherships each carrying at least two jet-powered Group 1 LMs are air-launched and used as a C-UAS tactical technique to intercept and defeat (hit-to kill) a swarm of Low, Slow and Small (LSS) UAS threats.