American Aerospace Technologies Inc. (AATI) and its subsidiary company, Sky Scape Industries (SSI), recently successfully tested the concept of using UAS to deliver emergency supplies to first responders after disasters on behalf of the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA).

On July 24 and 25, AATI and SSI completed two UAS research flights at the Cape May-Lewes Ferry Terminal in Cape May, New Jersey. Other entities involved in the testing included the New Jersey Institute of Technology, New Jersey Innovation Institutes Unmanned Aviation Systems Test Site, the Delaware River & Bay Authority and the DLA.

Taking off from the Ferry Terminal, the UAS set out on a land-to-land delivery target where emergency sustenance was delivered. After this, the UAS performed a second mission that involved delivering that same sustenance payload from the Cape May Ferry Terminal to the fast-response cutter USCGC Lawrence Lawson off the coast of Cape May. The payload for this mission included First Strike Ration (FSR) meals and a case of water that weighed 50 pounds. AATI notes that both target locations (ship and land) were located approximately one mile away from the takeoff zone.

“I could not be more proud of the AATI team,” says Nate Ernst, the mission commander for the operation.

“The Defense Logistics agency is looking to new methods of emergency response. We are honored to help provide solutions that may one day save lives utilizing unmanned aircraft systems.”

The DLA manages the global supply chain for several entities, including but not limited to, the Army, Navy, 10 combatant commands, other federal agencies, and partner and allied nations. One of its main responsibilities is to provide food and water to first responders following disasters.

One of the goals of DLA Troop Support is to find “innovative supply chain solutions” for warfighters that offer support following natural disasters, serving in austere environments or aboard ships. AATI notes these successful tests could potentially lead to future solutions. 

AATI adds that these flights have also generated “extremely large data sets” that will “facilitate in-depth analysis of the flight characteristics of the utilized UAS while operating at minimum and maximum loads.”