The US Marine Corps could decide shortly whether to deploy unmanned air systems for the sole purpose of taking some truck convoys off Afghanistan's perilous roads.
Awarding a contract for the cargo resupply mission could do more than open a new market for unmanned systems. Depending on which aircraft the USMC selects, the contract could restart production of the Kaman K-Max helicopter or provide the first operational role for the Boeing A160 Hummingbird.
A Kaman/Lockheed Martin team has completed a flight demonstration under a contract awarded in August. Its competitor, Boeing, is expected to finish its flight demonstration with the A160 before mid-March.
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© Lockheed Martin |
The K-Max has already completed an unmanned resupply demonstration |
Meanwhile, a third contender could re-emerge if the USMC decides to open the contract for the Afghanistan deployment to all bidders. Although the USMC rejected the Northrop Grumman MQ-8B Fire Scout team's proposal last August, the company has recently demonstrated autonomous resupply capability with the Fire Scout for the army.
Mike Fuqua, Northrop's business development director for tactical unmanned systems, confirms the Fire Scout could be resubmitted if the USMC reopens the competition.
The Fire Scout would face a formidable challenge against the K-Max or Hummingbird. During the army demonstration, the Fire Scout lifted about 41kg (90lb). Fuqua says the Fire Scout could "pretty reasonably" haul a maximum of about 400kg of cargo.
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© Northrop Grumman |
The Fire Scout has performed a cargo lift for the US Army |
But the K-Max demonstrated the ability to lift 680kg up to about 12,000ft (3,660m), says Dan Spoor, vice-president of aviation systems and Lockheed's Owego, New York, facility. The K-Max also carried four separate loads weighing 340kg each at the same time, delivering the full load autonomously, Spoor says.
The Hummingbird is listed as capable of carrying up to 1,134kg, and has recorded a record-breaking 18h flight with a full mission payload.
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© Boeing |
Boeing is seeking its first order for the A160 Hummingbird |
The USMC staged the competition to prove whether the concept of an unmanned resupply mission is feasible. The aircraft must be able to change its route mid-flight if the landing zone changes, possibly as a result of enemy fire.
US Army officials have been reluctant to share the USMC's interest in the resupply mission by unmanned aircraft. In October, a senior army official said the service would prefer to modify its manned helicopters to perform the resupply mission autonomously, rather than buy a purpose-built fleet.
The Lockheed/Kaman team, however, say they have recently received interest from the army about the K-Max.
"We're engaged in some conversations with the army. But nothing has been requested yet," Spoor says.
Source: Flight International
