Submunition deployment system

A payload module for use with an aerial vehicle, the payload module comprising:

• a strongback having a cylindrical shape about an axis, said strongback having at least one opening formed therein;
• at least one submunition assembly positioned inside the strongback within the at least one opening, each said submunition assembly having a conformal surface,
• a skin having a cylindrical shape about the axis, said skin having at least one opening and at least one panel formed therein, each of said at least one opening and said at least one panel having sufficient area to cover the at least one opening in the strongback;
• a bearing assembly configured to allow for rotation of the skin relative to the strongback about the axis;
• wherein pre-deployment the skin is aligned such that the at least one opening in the strongback and the conformal surface of the submunition positioned therein are exposed through the at least one opening in the skin such that the skin and conformal surface of the submunition assembly complete an outer mold line (OML);
• a deployment assembly including at least one spring per submunition assembly positioned and pre-biased to exert an outward force on the submunition assembly and at least one locking unit to secure the submunition assembly, wherein at deployment the locking unit releases the submunition assembly and the spring exerts the outward force on the submunition assembly to deploy the at least one submunition assembly through the aligned openings in the strongback and skin;
• and
• a rotation assembly including a rotational spring configured to pre-bias rotation of the skin relative to the strongback, pre-deployment rotation is prevented by interference of the skin with at least one of the submunition assembly's conformal surface,
• wherein once the at least one submunition assembly clears the payload module, the rotational spring rotates the skin relative to the strong back such that the at least one panel covers the at least one opening in the strongback and exposed surfaces of the strongback and the skin complete the OML.

A payload module for use with an aerial vehicle, the payload module comprising:

• a strongback having a cylindrical shape about an axis, said strongback having at least one axial opening formed therein, said axial opening having a length parallel to the axis and a width such that a ratio of length/width is at least 2:1;
• at least one submunition assembly positioned inside the strongback within the at least one axial opening, said submunition assembly including a separable container having a conformal surface and at least one submunition positioned within the separable container, a skin having a cylindrical shape about the axis, said skin having at least one axial opening and at least one axial panel formed therein, each having sufficient area to cover the at least one axial opening in the strongback;
• a bearing assembly configured to allow for rotation of the skin relative to the strongback about the axis;
• wherein pre-deployment the skin is aligned such that the at least one axial opening in the strongback and the conformal surface of the submunition positioned therein are exposed through the at least one axial opening in the skin such that the skin and conformal surface of the submunition assembly complete an outer mold line (OML);
• a deployment assembly including at least one spring per submunition positioned and pre-biased to exert an outward force on a forward portion of the submunition assembly and at least one locking unit to secure the submunition and a hinge per submunition assembly positioned aft on the separable container and the axial opening of the strong back, wherein at deployment the locking unit releases the submunition assembly and the spring exerts the outward force on the conformal container to pivot about the hinge and deploy the at least one submunition assembly, including the separable container, through the aligned openings in the strongback and skin;
• and
• a rotation assembly including a rotational spring configured to pre-bias rotation of the skin relative to the strongback, pre-deployment rotation is prevented by interference of the skin with at least one of the submunition assembly's conformal surface, wherein once the at least one submunition assembly clears the payload module, the rotation assembly rotates the skin relative to the strongback such that the at least one panel covers the at least one opening in the strongback and exposed surfaces of the strongback and the skin complete the OML.