Cargo UAS: Moving supplies and saving lives

摘要

Kaman's K-MAX unmanned cargo system was originally intended to be a proof-of-concept to learn whether unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) could deliver supplies to US Marine Corps (USMC) forward operating bases (FOBs) in Afghanistan, eliminating the need for truck convoys or even manned helicopter cargo operations. Convoys in Afghanistan have had to run the gauntlet of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and Taliban ambushes. Manned helicopters such as the CH-53 have also come under fire, and the fact that these were manned operations meant flying hours were subject to human limitations. The first K-MAX was delivered in November 2011 and it demonstrated the ability to conduct multiple sorties per day and carry as much as 4,500 lb (2,041 kg) in a single load. Two years later the marines are still flying the aircraft with no plan to give it up until operations are wrapped up in Afghanistan.