The simple robust design of the SideArm system ensures that it can be deployed in any arena without the armed forces having to undertake costly retrofitting measures.

Even the drones that have the longest flight time have to land sometime. Rather than risk damaging multi-million dollar aircrafts on improvised battlefield landing strips or aboard the United States’ Naval vessels, DARPA is in the process of developing a new kind of drone recovery system that snatches them right out of mid-air.

Part of the larger Tern program, DARPA’s new drone recovery program is called the SideArm system. Through it, DARPA seeks to integrate its drones into the warfare arena without having to drastically renovate any of its vessels.

The SideArm system can be fitted into a standard shipping container and can be set up and be operated by just 2 to 4 persons. Although DARPA has tested the system with Lockheed Martin Fury UAS which weighs 400 pounds, it can reportedly catch drones weighing upto 1,100 pounds.

Much like the wire system used by aircraft carriers, DARPA’s SideArm uses a similar system, just upside down.

As can be seen in this video, drones are launched using a horizontal rail, upon their return they are made to fly under the rail where its tailhook is caught by an arresting line which rests just under the rail. On catching the tailhook, the drone is gently and slowly swung into a net where the aircraft’s nose barbs hold it in place.

With the entire system tested, DARPA is now looking for transition partners and scouring to see whether the system can be used with other drone catching systems as well.