http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=63107
Navy NewsStand
October 5, 2011
Cargo UAS to Deploy, Keeping Trucks off the Road
From Program Executive Office for Unmanned Aviation and Strike Weapons Public Affairs
PATUXENT RIVER, Md. – The Navy and Marine Corps announced Oct. 5 its plan to deploy the service’s first cargo unmanned aircraft system to Afghanistan next month.
Adm. Bill Shannon, program executive officer for Unmanned Aviation and Strike Weapons, approved Lockheed Martin/Kaman’s K-MAX unmanned helicopter for a six-month deployment to augment Marine Corps ground and air logistics operations.
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Prior to Shannon’s decision last week, Commander Operational Test and Evaluation Force released a report documenting the system’s favorable performance during a quick reaction assessment in Yuma, Ariz., in August. Marine Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Squadron (VMU) 1, Cargo Resupply Unmanned Aircraft System (CRUAS) Det. conducted the QRA, which replicated a week in the life of operations in Afghanistan with temperatures, flight profile and terrain almost identical to those planned for deployment.
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Results from the QRA confirmed that K-MAX exceeded the Navy and Marines’ requirement to carry 6,000 pounds of cargo per day over a five-day period. The system carried a total of 33,400 pounds of cargo during the assessment period, with nearly 3,500 pounds delivered in a single mission.
“K-MAX has the capability to deliver a tremendous amount of cargo over the course of the deployment,” said Maj. Kyle O’Connor, VMU-1 CRUAS Det. officer in charge. “We witnessed firsthand its ability to carry multiple loads to separate locations in a single sortie without being affected by harsh conditions.”
Test coordinators developed scenarios that would demonstrate the system’s ability to operate in severe conditions. For example, K-MAX flew one mission in a dusty zone, similar to the Afghan environment. The successful mission validated the system’s auto drop function, proving the aircraft’s ability to deliver cargo at any location.
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O’Connor is confident the deployment will be a success if the system operates as well as it did during its assessment. He will lead the Marine detachment in Afghanistan next month along with Lockheed Martin contractors, many of whom have prior military experience.
The majority of personnel will operate two K-MAX helicopters from a central main operating base. AVOs will reside at smaller forward operating bases, where cargo will be delivered.
“Most of the missions will be conducted at night and at higher altitudes,” said Marine Capt. Caleb Joiner, mission commander. “This will allow us to keep out of small arms range.”
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“Every time this aircraft delivers a payload, we’re taking one more truck off the road,” said Cpl. Ryan Venem, Det. AVO. “That’s our goal, reducing IED (improvised explosive device) strikes and taking convoys off the roads.”
