In an interview with Vertical, Jim Naylor, Lockheed Martin business development director for aviation systems, confirmed that unmanned cargo resupply missions were ongoing. Were doing missions in Afghanistan as we speak. . . . Its a very exciting time.

The U.S. Department of the Navy authorized the deployment of the K-MAXes last fall after a test aircraft successfully completed a five-day quick reaction assessment (QRA) conducted by the Cargo Resupply Unmanned Aircraft System Detachment of Marine Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Squadron One (VMU-1). During the QRA which was designed to replicate the temperatures, flight profiles and terrain found in Afghanistan the unmanned K-Max exceeded the Navy and Marine Corps requirement to be able to deliver 6,000 pounds of cargo a day in harsh conditions.

The current six-month deployment, which has a six-month extension option, is a military utility assessment that will provide the Navy and Marine Corps with the opportunity to evaluate the unmanned K-MAX in the field. The helicopters and most of the associated personnel are operating from a central base, with air vehicle operators residing at the smaller forward operating bases where cargo is being delivered. Although most details of the missions are classified, the Navy has previously stated that the majority would be conducted at night and at higher altitudes to keep the helicopters out of small arms range.

So far, the pioneering aircraft seem to be living up to their promise, demonstrating their ability to conduct resupply missions that would otherwise be done by manned ground vehicles (including one recent delivery of a 4,200-pound generator, which was successfully delivered in a single load). Using an unmanned aerial vehicle keeps military personnel off roads and away from the improvised explosive devices that have accounted for many of the NATO/coalition casualties during the war in Afghanistan.

Shown here making its first operational mission on Dec. 17, this unmanned K-MAX became the first unmanned helicopter to perform a cargo resupply mission in a combat zone. Lockheed Martin Photo

Everybodys feeling really good about how its going, said Naylor. Theyre performing very well over there and having a lot of success. Although the Navy has yet to order more of the unmanned helicopters, the program team is confident the military will see the value and that it can save lives and money. 

In addition to their work with the Navy and Marine Corps, Lockheed Martin and Kaman recently received a $47 million US contract from the U.S. Army to develop, demonstrate and deliver autonomous technologies for unmanned air systems in support of in-theater, unmanned cargo-resupply missions. They will use the unmanned K-MAX to demonstrate those technologies.  

The unmanned K-MAX has been developed from the commercial, manned version of the K-MAX, and the three unmanned K-MAXes that currently make up the program were created from existing commercial airframes. According to Terry Fogarty, general manager of Kaman Aerospaces unmanned aerial systems product group, the company has the ability to convert a handful of additional airframes on relatively short notice. Should Lockheed Martin and Kaman receive a larger order for their unmanned aerial truck, Kaman would re-start the K-MAX production line. Fogarty said the most significant obstacle to re-starting the production line long lead times for certain components is something the company has already started working to reduce.

Because the unmanned K-MAX is based on an airframe already certified by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration, a large military order could spell good news for commercial operators, too. According to Fogarty, If we open the production line, it will be manufacturing an FAA-certified aircraft. . . . We could potentially build some for the commercial world, as well.