DARPA’s Towed Airborne Lift of Naval Systems (TALONS) has been successfully tested more than 20 times since prototyping started in June, 2014.
The system allows ships of all sizes to to lift ISR payloads between 500 and 1,500 feet above sea level using a parafoil. A simple idea that extends the effectiveness of the sensors compared to mounting them on a ship’s mast.