Lockheed Martin and Kaman have successfully transformed power lifter into an unmanned aircraft system for autonomous cargo delivery operations

In tests conducted recently, Kaman Aerospace Corporation has proved that the unmanned K-MAX helicopter can resupply troops with cargo airdropped by parachute.

The tests added a new delivery method for the 6,000 lb power lifter, which Lockheed Martin and Kaman have successfully transformed into an unmanned aircraft system for autonomous cargo delivery operations.

At its Bloomfield, Connecticut facility, Kaman, in partnership with the US Army’s Natick Soldier Research, Development and Engineering Centre (NSRDEC) conducted 11 cargo airdrop tests from 300 ft to 400 ft above ground level. Kaman used its four-hook carousel for the drops, and during one flight, demonstrated four airdrops in a single mission.

Kaman performed the airdrops using the Army’s low cost low altitude cross parachute, a one-time-use expendable aerodynamic decelerator that costs about $375 (Rs 16,929). Currently used to airdrop supplies from manned aircraft in Afghanistan, the parachute is designed to handle 80-600 lb payloads delivered from 150-300 ft altitudes above ground level.

In January, Kaman and Lockheed Martin had successfully demonstrated to the US Marine Corps at Dugway Proving Grounds in Utah the capability of the unmanned K-MAX helicopter to resupply troops by unmanned helicopter at forward operating bases in Afghanistan. During the demonstration, the team showed autonomous and remote control sling load delivery over both line-of-sight and satellite-base beyond-line-of-sight data links.