Tue, Dec 13, 2011
The first time we hard about the adaptation of the incredible
Kaman K-Max helo to an unmanned role, we weren't sure we believed
it... but the recent data coming out of the trials and deployment
suggest that this is an idea whose time has come.
Lockheed Martin and Kaman joined forces to adapt the K-MAX to an
unmanned aircraft system (UAS) capable of autonomous or remote
controlled cargo delivery -- with a specific mission in mind --
battlefield cargo resupply.
The K-MAX UAS allows the Marines to deliver supplies by day or
night to precise locations without risk to personnel. It boasts
some exceptional capabilities... such as the ability to fly at
higher altitudes with a larger payload than any other rotary wing
UAS, and via its four hook carousel, the K-MAX UAS has the cojones
to deliver more cargo to more locations in just one flight.
It's been a grueling development process... The R&D team has
flown the K-MAX UAS nearly 400 hours in autonomous mode since
joining forces in 2007. The rugged system can lift and deliver a
full 6,000 lbs of cargo at sea level and more than 4,000 pounds at
15,000 ft density altitude. ANN is told that the K-MAX 'continues
to exceed expectations' as an unmanned platform' having met all
unmanned milestones to date while the piloted bird still continues
to build a serious rep in the commercial logging and fire-fighting
industries. The aircraft remains optionally piloted for ease of
National Airspace Operations, occasional manned mission
flexibility, ferry flights, rapid integration of new mission
equipment, while allowing rapid return-to-service activities.
To date, the K-Max fleet has accumulated more than 255,000
flight hours since 1994.
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