Ubemannet helikopter med underhengende last funker godt

K-Max Proves Unmanned Heli-Lift in Afghanistan

AIN Defense Perspective » April 20, 2012

by Bill Carey

 

Two unmanned K-Max helicopters deployed to Afghanistan late last year for a military user evaluation are performing well, according to contractor Lockheed Martin. (Photo: Lockheed Martin)

April 20, 2012, 6:00 PM

The two K-Max unmanned helicopters deployed to Afghanistan late last year by the U.S. Marine Corps are performing well, according to contractor Lockheed Martin. The unmanned K-Max carries underslung loads, and was developed from the Kaman Aerospace intermeshing-rotor design intended for piloted forestry and firefighting work.
“We’re really showing that the K-Max can provide an unmanned logistics resupply capability. We’re hoping the U.S. military will want more helicopters,” said Jim Naylor, business development director for Lockheed Martin’s MS2 division in Owego, N.Y., which designed the autonomous control and mission management system. Lockheed Martin said the K-Max achieved a 100-percent mission capability rate in March and is clocking 0.8 maintenance man-hours per flight hour. The cost of maintenance is less than the “advertised” price of $1,200 per hour, said Naylor.