General Atomics Demonstrates Inflight Release of A2LE Platform from MQ-20 Avenger

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) executed an inflight release of its Advanced Air-Launched Effects (A2LE) platform on November 28, 2023.

The demonstration involved releasing an A2LE from the internal weapons bay of the GA-ASI MQ-20 Avenger Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) over the Dugway Proving Ground in Utah.

The A2LE platform underwent a series of activities, including manufacturing, structural testing, and flight demonstration. GA-ASI collaborated with Divergent Technologies, Inc. for the A2LE vehicle design and build, utilizing Divergent’s Adaptive Production System (DAPS) for rapid, low-cost manufacturing.

The A2LE platform combines GA-ASI’s aircraft design capabilities with Divergent’s DAPS, aiming to advance affordable, modular SUAS platforms. The airframe of the demonstration vehicle was entirely additively manufactured, featuring a topology-optimized structure designed to withstand captive carriage and ejection loads. The additive manufacturing structure underwent validation through proof and pit ejection testing before the flight demonstration.

GA-ASI’s A2LE platform has the potential for various military applications, including surveillance, attack, enemy air defense suppression, or communication pathways.