K-MAX Conducts Military Airdrops

Image courtesy of Kaman.

Kaman Aerospace and the U.S. Army’s Natick Soldier Research, Development and Engineering Center have completed a series of cargo airdrops with an unmanned K-MAX helicopter. The trials in late April involved 11 parachute airdrops using its four-hook carousel from 300–400 feet agl. According to Kaman, one of the flights demonstrated four airdrops in single mission. The Bloomfield, Conn.-based manufacturer partnered with Lockheed Martin in January to demonstrate the capabilities of the unmanned K-MAX in the troop re-supply role at the Dugway Proving Ground in Utah.

For more details about unmanned programs being undertaken by other helicopter manufacturers see Andrew Drwiega’s Quad-A Recap. (From June 2010 Rotorcraft Report)