Precision airdrop system and method

A method for calculating a flight plan and a precision release point for an aircraft carrying a payload, the method comprising the steps of:

• supplying, from a four-dimensional (4D) wind measurement system, 4D wind data indicative of atmospheric wind velocity and direction (i) at and within a first threshold distance around a current flight level of the aircraft, (ii) at and within a second threshold distance around a drop zone for the payload, and (iii) at and within a third threshold distance around a plurality of different altitudes;
• continuously sampling, in a processing system, the 4D wind data;
• iteratively processing the 4D wind data in the processing system to calculate, using a release point model implemented in the processing system, a flight plan for the aircraft and a precision release point for the payload;
• receiving the flight plan in a flight management system (FMS);
• and
• implementing the flight plan using the FMS.

An aircraft, comprising:

• a fuselage adapted to have a payload disposed therein;
• and
• an adaptive airdrop system disposed at least partially within the fuselage, the adaptive airdrop system comprising:
• a four-dimensional (4D) wind measurement system configured to (i) continuously measure at least atmospheric wind velocity and direction at and within a first threshold distance around a current flight level of the aircraft, at and within a second threshold distance around a drop zone for the payload, and at and within a third threshold distance around a plurality of different altitudes and (ii) supply 4D wind data indicative thereof;
• a processing system in operable communication with the 4D wind measurement system and configured to:
• (i) continuously sample the 4D wind data,
• (ii) implement a release point model, and
• (iii) iteratively process the 4D wind data to calculate, using the release point model, a flight plan for the aircraft and a precision release point for the payload;
• and
• a flight management system (FMS) in operable communication with the processing system, the FMS configured to receive and implement the flight plan.