From Sept. 16 to 17, General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. (GA-ASI) conducted captive carry Sparrowhawk small UAS (sUAS) flight demonstrations.

Designed as an airborne launch and recovery demonstrator aircraft tailored to fit GA-ASI platforms, the Sparrowhawk aircraft focuses on Advanced Battle Management System’s attritableONE technologies.

To further airborne recovery of sUAS, Sparrowhawk iterates on the DARPA Gremlins Program, which reduces the cost of operation and enables new mission capabilities to GA-ASI’s MQ-9 Remotely Piloted Aircraft.

“Sparrowhawk extends and multiplies MQ-9-based sensors, reduces manpower and increases ISR coverage,” says GA-ASI President David R. Alexander.

“With attritableONE technology that is survivable and precise, Sparrowhawk is a true game changer.”   

The Sparrowhawk sUAS was carried on a MQ-9A UAS. GA-ASI’s Metis Software Defined Control Station, which is hosted on a laptop computer, exclusively controlled the Sparrowhawk. According to GA-ASI, this drastically reduced the system’s logistical footprint and supports the vision for interfaces to the aircraft from across the battlefield — without the need for a Ground Control Station shelter or vehicle.

A fielded meshONE datalink helped achieve communications, enabling collaborative autonomy capabilities among the platforms. The Cooperation in Denied Environments (CODE) autonomy engine was implemented to further understand cognitive Artificial Intelligence (AI) processing for unmanned systems.

GA-ASI says that the test flights build on the capabilities demonstrated when Gray Eagle carried two Area-I Altius-600 Air Launched Effects (ALEs) during Multi-Domain Operations (MDO) demonstrations, which the company adds underscores its commitment to expanding the capabilities of its aircraft.

Sparrowhawk and airborne recovery enable a variety of benefits, including allowing below-the-weather ISR, and enabling reduced visual and acoustic ISR; enabling attritable ISR/EW in the contested environment, allowing the MQ-9 to stand off at safe ranges; employing larger and more expensive payloads at greater transit ranges compared to ground-launched aircraft and air-launched expendables; and maintaining the chain of custody, through adverse weather, MQ-9 rotations, or with multiple targets.