Teledyne Ryan Model 262 'Manta Ray' (STAR)

[TomS]

Slightly more on-topic, the STAR RPV was a staple of some 1970s "advanced marine vehicle" designs. For example, the HYD-7 hydrofoil escort was supposed to carry as many as a dozen RPVs like this.

https://www.secretprojects.co.uk/threads/1300-ton-destroyer-escort-hydrofoil-deh.6969/post-356214

Also the HYD-2, which was more of a true frigate (FFG-7) successor

https://www.secretprojects.co.uk/threads/grumman-hydrofoil-warship-hyd-2.32080/post-356505

 

[TomS]

In case it hasn't been shared before, there is a very interesting study by Teledyne Ryan done in 1976 for the U.S. Army (after the Lockheed "Aquila" was chosen over other designs by TRA, Philco-Ford, etc.) and pertaining to the question of Mini-RPVs, especially focusing on the various possible configurations and methods for recovery.
It can be found online in two places, but I'll attach it here nevertheless, just in case:

• https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/tr/pdf/ADA046177.pdf
• https://archive.org/details/DTIC_ADA046177

And in 1978, a Teledyne Ryan study on various launching techniques for same.

https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/tr/pdf/ADA062990.pdf

 

[_Del_]

It's too bad the earlier Mini-RPV/Low RCS RPV attempts were still secret at the time of the book.

As memory serves they nixed a great deal of content from both that book and the earlier "Fireflies and other UAVs".