Precision Aerial Delivery of Sonobuoys (PADS) Navy SBIR FY2004.1 Sol No.: Navy SBIR FY2004.1 Topic No.: N04-014 Topic Title: Precision Aerial Delivery of Sonobuoys (PADS) Proposal No.: N041-014-0 Firm: KaZaK Composites Incorporated 32 Cummings Park Woburn, Massachusetts 01801-2122 Contact: Jerome Fanucci Phone: (781) 932-5667 Web Site: kazakcomposites.com Abstract: The PADS device couples to an existing A/2-to-G-size sonobuoy to provide significant stand-off delivery range. The combination of PADS and sonobuoy conforms to A-size mass and geometry and permits current ASW hardware and operational concepts to be employed for deployment. When launched from high altitude, PADS deploys wings and control surfaces to become a precision air delivery platform with a stand-off range in excess of 50 nm. At 200 feet above the water, the sonobuoy is jettisoned from PADS and describes a conventional low altitude, parachute assisted water entry, followed by underwater sensor deployment. The PADS air vehicle then enters the water and sinks. Phase I development focuses on design of the delivery vehicle, control system and the interface with the sonobuoy payload. Team member Sparton Electronics shall provide sonobuoy interface and operational expertise for PADS development. Programmable flight path via the GPS driven autopilot permits mission flexibility for maximum covertness. Delivery accuracy of 100 meter CEP is estimated. Flight vehicle hardware, selected for the combination of performance and low unit cost expendability, is derived from extended range, compact carriage technology development programs at KCI for Air Force air deployed munitions, leveraging available Navy R&D funding while minimizing risk. Benefits: Successful completion of Phase I and II of the PADS development program will result in the demonstration of a low cost, expendable sonobuoy delivery vehicle the meet the Navy's goal for a remote delivery capability for ASW sensors. In Phase I PADS shall be designed for covert deployment of a standard ASW sonobuoy. After prototyping and test in Phase II, the stand-off sonobuoy delivery system will provide the following advantages: - No significant change in ASW operations (air launch or sonobuoy water deployment) - Minimal development of sonobuoy payload required - Applicable to F, G and A/2 Size sonobuoys - Proven hardware concepts for air-released weapons - Deployable wings and control fins in development for air launched munitions share many requirements and features with PADS hardware, including: - Compressed carriage - Hardware must be compactly stowed for long periods of time, yet deploy with very high reliability under high load upon activation. - Air Deployable - For airborne munitions, hardware designed for deployment loads at Mach 0.90 at 25,000 feet. - Expendable - Munitions and sonobuoys are one-time expendables, with strong emphasis on low cost. - Like the sonobuoy itself, PADS is designed for low unit cost in high volume production while performing a challenging mission including autonomous air and underwater deployment. In addition to the market for stand-off sonobuoy delivery, PADS derivatives can be adapted to deliver sensors for a wide variety of applications where covert deployment is desirable (such as homeland defense, anti-terrorist operations, intelligence missions and drug interdiction) or for remote deployment of sensors into dangerous environments (such as nuclear accidents or chem-bio attacks). It can also be used as a delivery package for critical shipments of material into otherwise difficult to reach situations, for example, the emergency delivery of medical supplies to wounded and pinned down forces, or the covert delivery of ammunition and food to special operations teams. Return