Precision Aerial Delivery Systems (PADS)

Abstract

Mission planning involves the creation of a flight plan based on multiple inputs including threats, targets, terrain, weather, aircraft performance capability, and configuration. It is an essential task that must be completed prior to any fixed- or rotary wing aircraft sortie. The planner must have the ability to plan weapon, cargo, passenger, and/or fuel delivery, calculate fuel requirement and assess the route based on known enemy threat location and type. Mission planners must be able to optimize and de-conflict flight routes with other aircraft; review, print and brief the plan; download pertinent flight information to on-board aircraft avionics; and, conduct dynamic/in-flight re-planning as applicable. This project continues the development of a Joint Precision Airdrop System-Mission Planner (JPADS-MP) capability in conjunction with the Army. JPADS provides a planning capability for DoD airdrop requirements. It is the primary airdrop mission planning system for all ballistic airdrop missions as well as precision guided airdrops that are required when the mission profile or surface-to-air threat assessment warrants a high-altitude and/ or standoff precision delivery. It enables high-altitude, precise airdrop delivery to forward ground forces, while mitigating surface-to-air threats, reducing risk of exposure to Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) and insurgent attack on ground convoys. JPADS allows the warfighter to consider weather, terrain, aircraft capabilities, threat, etc., to accurately deliver payloads to combat and other friendly forces. The Consolidated Airdrop Tool (CAT) is the key JPADS-MP software deliverable. It will increase the accuracy of airdrop mission planning by improving aircraft, payload, and chute specific calculations along with weather analysis visualization tools specifically adapted for airdrop. Future initiatives are designated to achieve automation of airdrop planning and execution to reduce task saturation in the cockpit and support Air Mobility Command's (AMC) objective of moving to a two-man cockpit. These efforts include the ability to automatically receive and use real-time winds in any location, calculation of a release point and airdrop in a single pass, the ability to conduct real-time objective area analysis to calculate probable damage estimates and execute dynamic re-tasking, the ability to conduct post-drop assessments, and the implementation of new technologies (e.g. Service Oriented Architecture (SOA) Touch Screen environment). In addition the Air Force Research Laboratories (AFRL) led Precision Airdrop (PAD) Flagship Capability Concept (FCC) effort will transition technology for new capabilities into various CAT software release/deliverables. The PAD FCC is also charged with updating airdrop platforms and airdrop related systems to improve accuracy across all airdrop mission types. The following capabilities are planned for development within the JPADS-MP program: - Wireless Gate Release System (WGRS) - Local Area Prediction System (LAPS) - Airdrop Damage Estimate (ADE) - Combination Airdrop - Support of new map projections including polar stereographic - Advanced Launch Acceptable Range (LAR) - Drogues and Wireless Activation Device (WAD) - Automation and Health Status/Monitoring - Autonomous Guidance Unit (AGU) Data Transfer updates - Bundle Tracking - Service Oriented Architecture (SOA) to enable seamless data communication between devices - Support for ParaNavSys, Dropsonde Optimization - Transference of wind along a flight path - Replacement of weather assimilation engine with Kalman Filter - Implementation of new weather observation sources (i.e. Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) and RADAR sensing capabilities) for real-time weather - Simulator and rehearsal mode for Aircraft Weapon System Trainers (WST) FY17 funding continues CAT v5 development and testing to provide precision and conventional airdrop capabilities including, but not limited to, Airdrop Damage Estimate (ADE), Combination Airdrop, Personnel Airdrop, Unified Mission Configuration Editor, Falconview Overlays and Advanced LAR and Failure Footprints, Kalman Filter Implementation and calculation optimization, Humanitarian airdrop, and bundle tracking for AF and other services (e.g. the Army) aircraft platforms. FY17 will also begin CAT v6.x development efforts. This program is in Budget Activity 7, Operational System Development, which includes development efforts to upgrade systems that have been fielded or have received approval for full rate production, and anticipate production funding in the current or subsequent fiscal year.

Document Details

• Document Type: Project
• Publication Date: Oct 01, 2017
• Source ID: 675302_0208006F_7_3600_PB_2017

Tags

Readers

• Aerospace Engineering

Technology Areas

• Space