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Navy/USMC

UPDATED: US Marines Plan to Experiment With Fully Autonomous K-MAX Helicopters

By Brian Garrett-Glaser

Friday, April 12th, 2019

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UPDATED: US Marines Plan to Experiment With Fully Autonomous K-MAX Helicopters

Once grounded for lack of funding and official interest in continuing the program, two semi-robotic Marine Corps logistic helicopters are on their way to Connecticut to have their brains enhanced. The Marine Corps for a time operated two Kaman [KAMNA] K-MAX enmeshed-rotor helicopters outfitted with Lockheed Martin [LMT]-developed autonomy kits to deliver tons of supplies to forward operating bases in Afghanistan. Those helicopters drew strong praise from enlisted Marines and top brass, but were eventually grounded. Congress provided some funding…

Congress

Baldwin Concerned With Army’s JLTV ‘Mismanagement,’ Seeks Support For Marines’ Procurement Plans

Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) has raised concerns with the “Army’s mismanagement” of the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) program, and is seeking assurance that the Marine Corps can be supported […]

Congress

SASC Cites Concern With Army’s sUAS Approach, Seeks Info On Plans To Scale Fielding

Senate defense authorizers are seeking more info from the Army on its plans for scaling and deploying small drone capabilities citing concern with the service’s current “fragmented and insufficient” approach. […]

SASC Bill Would Raise Amphib Requirement To 33 Ships

The Senate Armed Services Committee’s (SASC) fiscal year 2027 defense policy bill adds new provisions that would raise the Navy and Marine Corps’ minimum requirement for amphibious warships and extend […]

Army

Army Plans To Initiate ISV-Heavy Competition Later This Year, Official Says

The Army is planning to initiate its competition to build the Infantry Squad Vehicle (ISV)-Heavy in the fourth quarter of this year, a senior acquisition official has said. Jesse Tolleson, […]