SBIR-STTR Award

Greater inter-state strategic competition poses significantly different challenges than counterinsurgency, counterterrorism, and stability operations. In skies where air dominance is not secure and where there is a threat from enemy fighter aircraft or advanced missile systems, the option for insertion of supplies via airdrop from C-130 or C-17 becomes problematic. To mitigate this risk. To address these fundamental issues, Freedom Flight and its team propose the development of a long-range powered parafoil air cargo delivery system that can be air deployed from Air Force cargo aircraft: Long Range Precision Aerial Delivery System (LRPADS). LRPADS will enable launch offset ranges of up to 350 miles, eliminating the need for transport aircraft to enter contested airspace and ensuring critical resupply operations continue unimpeded. LRPADS is configured as a ‘stack’, with the propulsion system, guidance system, and parafoil wing stowed on top of the pallet until deployment. As the pallet is deployed from the aircraft, the parachute releases, pulling the propulsion unit into position from its stowed orientation. As the pallet is deployed from the aircraft, the parachute releases, pulling the propulsion unit into position from its stowed orientation. Once in position, the propulsion unit engages, and the system proceeds to its target destination. The LRPADS configuration is flexible, allowing for propulsion system selection based on mission needs. For more permissive environments, the Signature Optimized Conventional Option (SOCO), consisting of a reciprocating engine and ducted propeller, will enable reduced-signature propulsion with lower cost and greater attritability. For non-permissive environments, the Powered Parafoil Fluidic Propulsion System (PP-FPS) enables maximum signature reduction for missions that demand near ‘silence’ to ensure high-value cargo reaches its destination. Freedom Flight’s cargo delivery system will also enable long offset powered parafoil deployment of other mission-ready cargos. It could be configured to deliver kinetic payloads, such as Raytheon Griffin missiles. In this configuration, palletized munitions could be delivered close to enemy positions while reducing risk to high-value Air Force assets by taking advantage of the reduced signatures and extremely low cost of powered parafoils. Because this weapon system would be ‘attritable’, a multitude of the remotely commanded, strike units could be used simultaneously as an element in long-range precision fires swarming tactics to be added to the forward deployed force structure. This configuration will meet the Strategic Capability need Complexity, Unpredictability, and Mass by augmenting high-end platforms with larger numbers of inexpensive, low-end systems in order to increase adaptability and the capacity to absorb losses. LRPADS has a clear technical roadmap to delivering a extremely low cost, reliable, flexible cargo delivery system in t

Powered parafoils have several outstanding characteristics, they are low-cost, have high payload capacities, long-range capabilities, and are simple to operate. However, their parachutes are vulnerable to damage from snagging on rocks, vegetation and other obstacles during takeoff and landing. They are also limited by their ability to handle adverse winds and cross winds. Furthermore, laying out the parachute for takeoff, and stowing it after landing, take valuable time and require the vehicle to be stopped. These limitations have greatly restricted the practical application of powered parafoils. Freedom Flight Works, Inc. (FFW) is surmounting these challenges with an automatic parachute deploy and retraction system called “Deploy on the Run” (DOR). The DOR system enables operators to transition from ground mode to flight mode while the vehicle is in motion- vastly expanding the available takeoff and landing areas for the vehicle, reducing operator workload, and mitigating weather challenges. DOR has been under development for over three years with internal resources and under AFWERX SBIR Phase I and II contracts, and is patent pending. DOR operates with a motorized reel, parachute, and line management system that controls the extension and retraction of the parachute with automated, dynamic adjustment according to vehicle speed. Feasibility has been confirmed in several cycles of spiral development testing and refinement with highly encouraging results. DOR is ideal for integration into Freedom Flight’s Roadrunner Air & Ground Utility Vehicle (AGUV) the world’s most capable Air & Ground Utility Vehicle (TRL7). Roadrunner AGUV is equally comfortable on the ground and in flight and has a flight payload of over 900 lbs with a range of over 160 nautical miles. DOR is also well suited for integration into FFW’s Long Range Precision Aerial Delivery System (LRPADS), an autonomous parafoil cargo delivery system that can be launched from the ground, transport aircraft, or ships at sea. LRPADS has exceptional range, payload and low signature characteristics. When incorporated into these advanced parafoil platforms new mission capabilities will be enabled because of the broader range of possible takeoff and landing locations, reduced operator workload, and increased operational weather envelope. DOR will enable expanded use of powered parafoils across a broad range of military cargo and Special Operations applications missions. DOR is a game changer for increased powered parafoil utility and vastly expands their mission ca