Manned aircraft dominated much of the 20th century. But now, technological advances are leading to the development of more unmanned aircraft (UAVs). In the past decade, there have been several airplane versions used by the military, which have carried out many successful missions.
The U.S. Marines are looking for a few good unmanned aircraft, and Lockheed Martin has answered the call—with the K-MAX helicopter.
The new UAV was designed for battlefield cargo resupply missions. It can carry and deliver over 6,000 lbs. of cargo at sea level, and more than 4,000 lbs. at 10,000 feet altitude.
By moving cargo off the road, and taking our troops out of the loop, the K-MAX protects them from harm while keeping them supplied.
Among the unique features on the aircraft are its intermeshing motors, which Lockheed says, “eliminate the need for a tail rotor and allow for significantly improved lift performance and lower maintenance costs.”
The $45.8 million contract with Lockheed includes the delivery of two K-MAX UAVs and three remote control ground stations to the Marine Corps for evaluation—scheduled for summer 2011.
