Development of the MQ-9 Reaper Wings Container; Final rept. Mar 2006-Jun 2008

摘要

The Air Force Packaging Technology & Engineering Facility (AFPTEF) was tasked with the design of a new shipping and storage container for the MQ-9 Reaper wings in March of 2006. The previous container did not adequately satisfy user needs and Air Force requirements. A main problem was that it was designed for an MQ-9 Reaper fuselage, wings, and tails combined, which exceeded the 10,000 lb Air Force requirement for available ground support equipment. AFPTEF designed a smaller container for only the wings and tails and a separate container for the fuselage in order to bring container weights down under the 10,000 lb upper limit. Both containers feature retractable casters for rapid C- 130 deployment and easier handling. The wings container features a wire rope isolator mounted cradle system to protect the wings and tails (20G fragility). The design reduces required ground support equipment and eliminates hoisting risk to the wings by allowing wing jack usage for loading/unloading the wings. The new container, CNU-699/E, designed with SAE ARP1967A, is an aluminum, long- life, controlled breathing, reusable shipping and storage container. CNU-699/E protects the MQ-9 Reaper wings and tails mechanically and environmentally and has passed all qualification tests per ASTM D4169.