While the K-MAX unmanned cargo helicopter has shown promise during recent missions in Afghanistan, the system has not reached the desired amount of supplies it can ferry to soldiers in forward locations in the country, the Marine deputy commandant for combat development and integration said recently.
“The payload is still relatively light,” Lt. Gen Richard Mills told an audience at the Navy Surface Association symposium.
Initial reports of K-MAX indicate it has performed “very good” and has been capable of flying in poor weather that would prove difficult for a manned system, Mills said. He said, however, that it needs to be capable of carrying more than 5,000 pounds.
The partnership building the aircraft, Lockheed Martin [LMT] and Kaman Aerospace [KAMN], list a 4,000-to 6000-pound payload range for K-MAX, depending on the altitude.
K-MAX can be pre-programmed to fly autonomously to a predetermined location or can be rerouted during flight. It is being developed under the Cargo UAS program by the Navy and the Marine Corps based on an urgent requirement for moving supplies to troops in remote areas of Afghanistan.
Two of the K-MAX systems were deployed to Afghanistan in November to demonstrate the aircraft’s capability in real operations after the system underwent successful tests last summer. The unmanned, autonomous flying helicopters are intended to reduce risks, such as ambushes or improvised explosive devices (IEDs), associated with ground convoys.
The Navy awarded dueling development contracts to Lockheed Martin and Boeing [BA] in December 2010 to create an unmanned airlift capability.
Boeing is competing with its AT-160 Hummingbird, which it inherited when it acquired Frontier Systems in 2004. But the AT-160 has faced technical issues, and was subject to a 60-day stop-work order by the Marine Corps in December.
Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) said the temporary halt would allow the Navy and Marine Corps to evaluate the A-160T and determine the best course of action.
“They are still working toward maturing the system,” spokeswoman Jamie Cosgrove said last month.