Photo: Kaman
Kaman Air Vehicles announced the first flight of its new unmanned helicopter, the K-Max Titan. During military deployments, Kaman's system has completed over 1,000 crewless flights. Now, it intends to expand its mission capability to the commercial market in any area and under any conditions.
The K-Max helicopter began its commercial life as a logging helicopter in 1994, and it continues to carry logs from the forest to where they're needed even today. The aircraft was designed to operate in the most demanding situations and environments, including hot temperatures and high altitudes.
According to FlightGlobal, the U.S. Marine Corps first used the K-Max in Afghanistan in 2011, where it completed its first UAV cargo delivery in a war zone. The helicopters operated for three years, delivering 2 million kg (4.5 million pounds) of cargo after the initial trial run was successful.
Kaman's K-Max helicopter has been flying crewless cargo missions for the U.S. troops in Afghanistan for over a decade. On April 21st, the company introduced K-Max Titan, the world's first heavy-lift unmanned helicopter designed for the commercial market.
The aircraft features a counter-rotating rotor system and it is improved for repetitive external load operations. It can carry up to 6,000 pounds (2,722 kg) in hot and high conditions.
The U.S. Marine Corps and Kaman are working together to upgrade two of their K-Max air vehicles. The K-Max Titan unmanned system and Near Earth Autonomy's sensor-based autonomy suite are all part of the USMC experiment. In May 2021, flight testing is scheduled to begin.
The new system and the Near Earth Autonomy suite will be used to improve the existing K-Max helicopters. According to the manufacturer, the K-Max Titan will be available for the commercial market, and it will be able to be launched from anywhere under all weather conditions.
According to FlightGlobal, the U.S. Marine Corps first used the K-Max in Afghanistan in 2011, where it completed its first UAV cargo delivery in a war zone. The helicopters operated for three years, delivering 2 million kg (4.5 million pounds) of cargo after the initial trial run was successful.
Kaman's K-Max helicopter has been flying crewless cargo missions for the U.S. troops in Afghanistan for over a decade. On April 21st, the company introduced K-Max Titan, the world's first heavy-lift unmanned helicopter designed for the commercial market.
The aircraft features a counter-rotating rotor system and it is improved for repetitive external load operations. It can carry up to 6,000 pounds (2,722 kg) in hot and high conditions.
The U.S. Marine Corps and Kaman are working together to upgrade two of their K-Max air vehicles. The K-Max Titan unmanned system and Near Earth Autonomy's sensor-based autonomy suite are all part of the USMC experiment. In May 2021, flight testing is scheduled to begin.
The new system and the Near Earth Autonomy suite will be used to improve the existing K-Max helicopters. According to the manufacturer, the K-Max Titan will be available for the commercial market, and it will be able to be launched from anywhere under all weather conditions.
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