Analysis of Alternative Recovery Systems for the RQ-21A Blackjack

Abstract

The RQ-21A unmanned aerial system must be able to launch and recover independent from any runway or leveled surface. The current RQ-21A STUAS recovery system (SRS) has been deemed deficient by Program Management Authority 263, because it is incapable of recovering the air vehicle at its maximum weight and commonly causes damage to the air vehicle, payloads, and/or the SRS. This project conducted an analysis of alternatives to compare the SRS, VTOL, SideArm, FLARES, and Net Capture recovery systems based on performance, cost, and risks. The VTOL and SideArm are recommended as potential replacements because they outperform the RQ-21A SRS and other alternatives in performance, cost, and risk.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Mar 01, 2018
Accession Number
AD1052886

Entities

People

  • A. X. Gray
  • Abu Mashfiquzzaman
  • Andrew Todd
  • Ismail Hassen
  • Michael Melnyk
  • Nick Skalamera
  • Steven Lofy
  • Thomas Fahed

Organizations

  • Naval Postgraduate School

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms
  • Autonomy
  • Ground and Sea Platforms
  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Aircrafts
  • Airframes
  • Composite Materials
  • Control Systems
  • Cost Analysis
  • Engineers
  • Failure Mode And Effect Analysis
  • Feasibility Studies
  • Global Positioning Systems
  • Ground Control Stations
  • Program Management
  • Risk Analysis
  • Systems Engineering
  • Test And Evaluation
  • Unmanned Aerial Systems
  • Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

Readers

  • Aerospace Engineering
  • Life Cycle Cost Analysis
  • Mathematics or Statistics

Technology Areas

  • Autonomy