Innovative Weather Drone Growth for the USAF
Black swift Technologies has secured a contract with the United States Air Force (USAF) to create an unmanned aerial system (UAS) capable of autonomously performing atmospheric profiling tasks. Precise local weather predictions are crucial for the effective execution of various operations by the air Force, Army, and Special Operations Forces (SOF), particularly for missions involving supply drops.
Introducing the Black Swift S0
The newly developed unmanned aircraft, known as the Black Swift S0 (S-zero), is a compact and durable drone engineered for hand-launching, with the ability to ascend rapidly to altitudes of 15,000 feet. its distinctive tail design facilitates deep-stall landings, allowing for near-vertical descents with an extraordinary accuracy of 10 feet. This capability enables the S0 to swiftly and precisely gather 3D wind profiles across different altitudes.
Designed for Extreme Conditions
The S0 is built to operate in severe atmospheric conditions, including during hurricanes, and boasts a flight endurance of up to 90 minutes. Its sophisticated avionics support fully autonomous operations, requiring minimal training for users. The drone can function as a launch-and-forget system, executing rapid atmospheric profiling through automated sampling patterns and scripting.
Modular and Efficient
The system’s modular architecture allows for the fast integration of new sensors and functionalities. The onboard Multi-Hole Probe (MHP) measurements are closely linked with the aircraft’s control algorithms,significantly enhancing measurement precision. additionally, its data formatting and transmission capabilities are designed to seamlessly connect with existing Air Force systems.
Cost-Effective Technology for the Future
Jack Elston, Ph.D., the CEO of Black Swift Technologies, stated: “The S0 represents a groundbreaking technology for the Air Force. Its user-amiable design leads to a considerable decrease in training time.Moreover,by achieving volume sales in both commercial and defense sectors,the Air Force will benefit from this advanced technology at commercial pricing,rather than conventional DOD rates,resulting in long-term cost savings.”
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