An aircraft comprises a weapons bay, the weapons bay comprising a cavity having an opening through which stores may be deployed, and a door assembly for exposing/closing the opening of the cavity. A first store is held in the cavity via a launcher and a first structure is disposed inside the cavity, for controlling the aero-acoustic environment. The first structure for controlling the aero-acoustic environment is removeably mounted in the weapons bay, such that if the first store is exchanged for a second, different, store, the structure for controlling the aero-acoustic environment may be unmounted from the weapons bay and removed, to be exchanged for a second, different, structure for controlling the aero-acoustic environment.

A drone disabling device includes a plurality of streamer launch tubes having at least one streamer device positioned therein. A barrel housing is configured to hold the plurality of launch tubes within streamer launch barrels. An ignition system is configured to ignite propellant within the launch tubes and launch the streamer devices from the barrel housing such that one or more propellers of a hostile drone will become entangled and disabled. A parachute connected to the streamer device is deployed as the drone descends to protect people and property on the ground and to preserve the drone for intelligence gathering after landing.

Arming apparatus is installable between twin arming units of an ejector release unit in a military aircraft, and a single fuzing unit of a store. The arming apparatus comprises sequentially breakable links which ensure reliable ejection of the store in an armed state, or jettisoning of the store in an unarmed state, as desired.

The present disclosure provides a release launching system that is operative to receive and retain a drone or other payload in a protected launcher. The launcher helps to reduce the drag of the payload and to protect the payload from environmental factors. The payload is launched when a force initially separates the payload from the launcher and exposes a force generating mechanism. The force generating mechanism may be within the body portion of the device and generate an additional force to assist in separating the payload from the launcher. The payload may be launched using a biasing and fastening mechanism, which may include detachably coupling bracket, to allow for the separation of the payload from the launcher.

A refueling system has a vehicle having a fuel tank connected to a deployable fuel hose, an end effector having controlled flight, the fuel hose connected at an end away from the first vehicle, through the end effector to a fuel connector under the end effector, a second vehicle having a fuel tank coupled through a pumping apparatus to a fueling port on an acquisition apparatus adapted to acquire the end effector and connect the fueling port and the fuel connector of the end effector, and control circuitry enabling controlled flight of the end effector, wherein the end effector is controlled to be acquired by the acquisition apparatus to couple the fuel connector with the fueling port and fuel is provided from the fuel tank of one of the vehicles to the fuel tank of the other of the vehicles through the pumping apparatus.

A refueling system has a vehicle having a fuel tank connected to a deployable fuel hose, an end effector having controlled flight, the fuel hose connected at an end away from the first vehicle, through the end effector to a fuel connector under the end effector, a second vehicle having a fuel tank coupled through a pumping apparatus to a fueling port on an acquisition apparatus adapted to acquire the end effector and connect the fueling port and the fuel connector of the end effector, and control circuitry enabling controlled flight of the end effector, wherein the end effector is controlled to be acquired by the acquisition apparatus to couple the fuel connector with the fueling port and fuel is provided from the fuel tank of one of the vehicles to the fuel tank of the other of the vehicles through the pumping apparatus.

A personnel rescue system has a winch subsystem comprising a first tether deployable and retrievable with a powered winch, a powered and controllable end effector attached at a deployable end of the first tether, a second tether attached by a first end to the end effector, a personnel harness attached at a second end of the second tether; and control apparatus in communication with the end effector, the control apparatus operable to maneuver the end effector vertically and laterally, carrying the personnel harness to a subject to be rescued.

A personnel rescue system has a winch subsystem comprising a first tether deployable and retrievable with a powered winch, a powered and controllable end effector attached at a deployable end of the first tether, a second tether attached by a first end to the end effector, a personnel harness attached at a second end of the second tether; and control apparatus in communication with the end effector, the control apparatus operable to maneuver the end effector vertically and laterally, carrying the personnel harness to a subject to be rescued.

A door assembly for a payload bay (10) having an opening (12), the door assembly comprising at least one door (20, 220). The at least one door comprises: a panel section (22, 222) having a first end (24, 224) and a second end (26, 226); and a first mounting member (30, 230) arranged orthogonally to the panel section at the first end and having a first engagement feature (31, 231) having a rotational axis (18, 218) about which the panel section is arranged to rotate. The engagement feature is arranged to engage with a first fixing member (16, 216) on one side of the payload bay to rotatably couple the panel section to the payload bay. The at least one door is arranged to translate between a closed configuration, in which the panel section is arranged in the same plane as the opening, and an open configuration, in which the panel section is arranged at at least 90 degrees to the plane of the opening, by rotating about the rotational axis. The panel section is arranged parallel to and offset from the rotational axis, such that an inner surface of the panel section faces the rotational axis.

A door assembly for a payload bay (10) having an opening (12), the door assembly comprising at least one door (20, 220). The at least one door comprises: a panel section (22, 222) having a first end (24, 224) and a second end (26, 226); and a first mounting member (30, 230) arranged orthogonally to the panel section at the first end and having a first engagement feature (31, 231) having a rotational axis (18, 218) about which the panel section is arranged to rotate. The engagement feature is arranged to engage with a first fixing member (16, 216) on one side of the payload bay to rotatably couple the panel section to the payload bay. The at least one door is arranged to translate between a closed configuration, in which the panel section is arranged in the same plane as the opening, and an open configuration, in which the panel section is arranged at at least 90 degrees to the plane of the opening, by rotating about the rotational axis. The panel section is arranged parallel to and offset from the rotational axis, such that an inner surface of the panel section faces the rotational axis.