Lockheed Martin/KAMAN K-MAX Completes U.S. Navy Unmanned Cargo Assessment at Yuma

YUMA, Ariz., September 6th, 2011 — The Lockheed Martin led unmanned K-MAX® team successfully completed a five-day Quick Reaction Assessment (QRA) for the U.S. Navy’s Cargo Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) program. “The autonomous flying K-MAX is designed to resupply Marines on the battlefield and in remote locations,” said Roger Il Grande, director of Airborne Systems at Lockheed Martin Mission Systems & Sensors. “Through various scenarios during QRA, the unmanned K-MAX UAS performed extremely well, exceeding the cargo delivery objectives of the assessment.” The U.S. Navy awarded Lockheed Martin a $45.8 million contract in December 2010 for unmanned K-MAX helicopters to perform in a U.S. Marine Corps evaluation of unmanned cargo resupply. The Navy intends to field a Cargo UAS this fall for a six-month deployment to augment Marine Corps ground and air logistics operations in Afghanistan. “The Quick Reaction Assessment proved sustainment of a cargo-carrying capability in an operational environment” said Capt. Patrick Smith, Cargo UAS program manager at the Navy’s Patuxent River, Md., facility. “We look forward to deploying a capability that will supplement rotary wing assets and reduce Marine Corps exposure to improvised explosive devices in theater.” A formal report will be released by Commander Operational Test and Evaluation Force […]
Lockheed Martin/KAMAN K-MAX Completes U.S. Navy Unmanned Cargo Assessment at Yuma