Small Unmanned Aerial Systems (SUAS) are in high demand, yet their utility is limited by their relatively low range and endurance, especially in distant mission spaces. In this work, a novel system is described that is capable of deploying SUAS from larger aircraft so that they can be transported to the mission space over long range. This deployment is performed in stages to safely transition the SUAS from high speed/high altitude launch to a mission area near sea level. The first piece of the system is a pod (modeled after a common munition), with folding wings and fins for gliding capability, that is capable of carrying multiple SUAS. Stored within the pod is one or more capsules designed to protect and slow the internally mounted SUAS to the effective operating speed. At the correct operating speed and altitude, the SUAS can be released and handed off to aircraft operators or flown autonomously into high-threat environments. This work describes the development, analysis and testing of this system. Alpha-level prototypes were developed and tested along with detailed analysis. The initial results indicate that the proposed concept is feasible and will greatly enhance the capabilities of SUAS.
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