There is provided a store ejection system and method that use a pressurized
non-pyrotechnic gas as the source of energy and transfer mechanism for jettisoning
a store, such as from an aircraft. The ejection system includes an on-board pressure
vessel for holding the pressurized gas with a releasable valve configured to hermetically
seal the pressure vessel. The pressure vessel is releasably connected to system
and the releasable valve is configured to be released after the pressure vessel
is connected thereto so that the releasable seal hermetically seals the pressure
vessel before the pressure vessel is connected to the pressure regulator. The ejection
system also includes at least one actuation system and at least one pneumatically-driven
jettison mechanism for releasably retaining the store.
