Black Swift Technologies has been awarded a USAF contract to develop an unmanned aircraft system called the Black Swift SØ to conduct atmospheric profiling and improve weather forecasts. The SØ can quickly climb to 15,000 feet, conduct rapid ascents and descents to capture wind profiles, and has a 90-minute flight time. It uses automated sampling and modular sensors to conduct "launch-and-forget" atmospheric data collection missions. The SØ is designed to provide cost-effective and accurate weather data to support cargo drops and operations for the Air Force, Army and Special Operations Forces.

1. April 20, 2020
Black Swift Technologies (BST), a specialized engineering firm
based in Boulder, CO, announced today it has been awarded a USAF SBIR Phase
II contract to develop an unmanned aircraft system (UAS) to autonomously
conduct atmospheric profiling supporting more accurate cargo drops and
improved localized weather forecasts supporting Air Force, Army and Special
Operations Forces (SOF) operations.
The aircraft, called the Black Swift SØ (S-zero), is a compact, yet
rugged, aerial platform designed to be hand-launched and quickly climb up to
15,000 feet. Its unique tail design allows deep-stall landing with near vertical
descent and 10-foot accuracy. The rapid ascent and descent allow the SØ to
quickly and accurately capture 3-dimensional (3D) wind profiles at various
levels—essential for precision cargo drops.
Manufactured entirely in the USA, the SØ was engineered from
inception for flight in extreme atmospheric conditions, including hurricane
deployments, and has a 90-minute cruise time. Its advanced avionics enables
fully autonomous operation with minimal training. Designed for rapid
atmospheric profiling, its automated sampling patterns and scripting allows for
“launch-and-forget operations.”
The SØ is a cost-effective aerial solution perfect for determining
the thermodynamics of the atmosphere. Its modular system design allows for
rapid integration of new sensors and capabilities. The system’s onboard Multi-
Hole Probe (MHP) measurements are tightly coupled with the aircraft’s control
algorithms, allowing significant improvement in measurement accuracy, while
its data formatting and transmission seamlessly integrate with existing Air Force
systems.
“The SØ is a new and unique technology for the Air Force,” says
Jack Elston, Ph.D., CEO of Black Swift Technologies. “Not only is the SØ simple
and easy to use, resulting in a dramatic reduction in training time, but through
volume sales to both the commercial and defense markets, the Air Force will be
getting this advanced technology at commercial prices, not DOD prices, which in
the long run will be very valuable, if for no other reason, simply the cost
savings.”
United States Air Force Awards Black Swift Technologies Contract
to Develop Tactical Weather Drone Supporting Air Force, Army and
Special Operations Forces