Precision Airdrop System

*† ‡ The portable Precision Airdrop System (PADS) supports ground and in -flight high altitude airdrop mission planning for ballistic and autonomously guided system payloads. Precision Airdrop Planning System (PAPS) and Wind -profile Precision Aerial Deliv ery System (WindPADS) software components have been integrated and hosted on a pressure ruggedized laptop computer and are initialized and executed through a Graphical User Interface (GUI). In -flight, the PADS laptop computer is connected to a portable UH F radio receiver that is connected to one of the airdrop aircraft's bottom UHF antennae to receive real -time in -situ wind data from GPS dropsondes hand -lau nched from the airdrop aircraft. Successful initial operational PADS tests have been completed for hi gh -altitude delivery of ballistic payloads from U.S. Air Force airdrop aircraft and demonstrated significant improvement in airdrop accuracy . The integrated 802.11g wireless interface on the commercially -av ailable PADS Laptop C omputer is being developed t o communicate a Mission File to the Airborne Guidance Units (AGU) of guided systems while in the aircraft's cargo bay. Initial testing and demonstration of PADS with guided system payloads, using an earlier FreeWave wireless interface, was su ccessful. P ADS is being used to support the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) Joint PADS (JPADS) Advanced Concept Technology Demonstration (ACTD) program for guided systems as the JPADS Mission Planner (JPADS -MP). PADS is also being deployed to support U.S. DOD high -altitude airdrop operations.

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