Black Swift S0™ Air Deployed UAS

Engineered from the ground up to excel in challenging environments, the Black Swift S0 is a compact yet durable aerial platform redefining atmospheric research. Equipped with advanced sensors, it accurately measures key atmospheric parameters, including pressure, temperature, humidity, and 3-dimensional winds.

Designed by Black Swift Technologies with weight reduction in mind, the S0 maintains exceptional endurance and measurement quality, delivering unmatched performance at a fraction of the cost of traditional platforms.

Air-Deployed Capabilities

The air-deployed version of the Black Swift S0 is dropped from a P-3 Orion, descending to lower altitudes to collect critical atmospheric and oceanographic data. Key capabilities include:

• Weight: 3 lbs (1.36 kg)

• Communication Range: Up to 125 nautical miles (231 km)

• Flight Endurance: Over 100 minutes total; 25 minutes at 10 meters (32.8 ft) above sea surface

• Sensors: Pressure, Temperature, Humidity (PTH), 3D wind, sea surface temperature, vehicle height above water

The aircraft is packaged with a drop tube and parachute. Upon deployment:

1. The parachute orients the tube vertically.

2. The protective tube is dropped.

3. The swivel-wing design allows seamless transition to autonomous flight.

This unique system enables safe and reliable operation in conditions where manned aircraft cannot safely fly.

Common Applications

• Atmospheric Monitoring: Precise measurement of key environmental variables

• Wildfire Observations: Rapid deployment in high-risk areas

• Hurricane Mapping: Captures data in extreme conditions, critical for tropical cyclone research

Advanced Mission Capabilities

The Black Swift S0 is specifically designed for extreme atmospheric research missions:

• Autonomous Operations: Fully automated sampling patterns and scripting for “launch-and-forget” missions

• Sea-Air Interface Research: Provides essential data for understanding storm energy transfer and momentum between the ocean and atmosphere

• Robust Sensor Suite: Captures high-fidelity 3D wind, PTH, and sea surface data even at low altitudes

Key Features

• Compact, lightweight, and robust airframe

• High-end avionics for fully autonomous operation

• Long-endurance battery system for extended missions

• Air-deployable with drop tube and parachute mechanism

• Seamless transition from deployment to flight