Directory of U.S. Military Rockets and Missiles
Appendix 2: Modern UAVs
CQ-10
MQ-9
RQ-11
Copyright © 2004-2006 Andreas Parsch

MMIST CQ-10 SnowGoose

In 2003, the U.S. Special Operations Command bought five SnowGoose aerial cargo delivery UAVs from the Canadian company Mist Mobility Integrated Systems Technology (MMIST). The SnowGoose UAV, officially designated CQ-10A by the DOD, is an application of MMIST's Powered Sherpa self-propelled autonomous GPS-guided parafoil delivery system.

Computer Generated Images: MMIST Inc.
CQ-10A


The CQ-10A vehicle consists of a central fuselage module which houses payload and fuel, the GPS-based navigation and control system and the single piston engine driving a pusher propeller. Attached to this module are landing skids and the parafoil canopy. The CQ-10A can be air-dropped or launched from the ground from a modified HMMWV vehicle. The cargo and fuel compartments of the SnowGoose are designed in such a way that the user can easily trade cargo capacity for more endurance and vice versa. Maximum cargo weight is about 260 kg (575 lb). An industry standard laptop computer is used to program the flight plan and upload it into the UAV's guidance system before launch. The SnowGoose conducts its mission completely autonomously, and can be programmed to either land at its destination point or drop supplies from the air and return to base.

Photos: MMIST Inc.
CQ-10A


The SnowGoose is intended for pin-point delivery of small cargo items (ammunition, supplies) to special forces. The CQ-10A has officially reached IOC (Initial Operational Capability) in January 2005 with 15 delivered vehicles, and the current requirement of the U.S. military is for at least 49 SnowGoose UAVs.

Photo: Jim Garamone, DOD
CQ-10A (on launch truck)


Specifications

Note: Data given by several sources show slight variations. Figures given below may therefore be inaccurate!

Data for CQ-10A:

Length2.90 m (9 ft 6 in)
Parafoil span?
Weightmax: 635 kg (1400 lb); empty: 270 kg (600 lb)
Speed61 km/h (38 mph)
Ceiling> 5500 m (18000 ft)
Range300 km (160 nm) (34 kg (75 lb) payload)
PropulsionRotax 914 piston engine; 81 kW (110 hp)

Main Sources

[1] MMIST Corp. Website
[2] SnowGoose: UAVs Enter the Airlift Business
[3] Department of Defense Missile Nomenclature Records
[4] "Unmanned Aircraft Systems Roadmap, 2005-2030", Office of the Secretary of Defense, August 2005


Back to Directory of U.S. Military Rockets and Missiles, Appendix 2





Last Updated: 22 December 2006