Integral energy source for store ejection

A store ejection system for mounting a jettisonable store on an aircraft, the store ejection system using a fluid as a source of energy and a transfer mechanism and comprising:

• a pressure vessel configured integral to the store, said pressure vessel capable of holding a pressurized non-pyrotechnic fluid for providing the source of energy and the transfer mechanism;
• a releasable seal configured to hermetically and releasably seal said pressure vessel;
• an actuation system comprising an accumulator releasably connected to said pressure vessel for receiving and storing the fluid from said pressure vessel, a dump valve for controlling a flow of fluid from said accumulator, and a controller for actuating said dump valve to an open position in response to a control signal to jettison the store;
• and
• a pneumatically-driven jettison mechanism for releasably retaining the store, said jettison mechanism fluidly connected to said dump valve such that actuating said dump valve to the open position releases the pressurized fluid in said accumulator to flow to said jettison mechanism, thereby actuating said jettison mechanism to jettison the store;
• wherein said releasable seal is configured to hermetically seal said pressure vessel before said actuation system is connected to said pressure vessel and said actuation system is configured to be fluidly connected to said pressure vessel upon release of said releasable seal.