Autonomous Glider Systems for Logistics Delivery

Gliders played a key role in a number of military operations during the Second World War. Subsequent advances in associated technologies have led to an interest in revisiting the idea of idelivery by glideri, in particular when congured as an autonomous vehicle. A study completed at the Carderock Division, NSWC, examined unmanned glider-based logistics delivery in littoral warfare and expeditionary operations. A range of possible glider and launch systems are presented. Two systems are discussed in more detail o a sea-based, catapult-launched glider, and an air-dropped glider with inatable wings.