Kaman unveils KARGO, a new mid-size UAV for expeditionary logistics
US company Kaman has unveiled the KARGO unmanned aircraft, the newest addition to a family of specialized autonomous drone systems developed as a new standard for expeditionary logistics.
The company said: "The era of semi-permanent forward bases and large concentrated forces is over. Small units and distributed groups will operate over vast distances, and each of them will need flexible logistics solutions to support new operational concepts. The KARGO UAV from Kaman Air Vehicles is that solution."
With the KARGO aircraft, missions can be advanced and risk to military personnel reduced by delivering vital equipment and supplies to distributed forces. At the same time, the device is built for harsh field operating conditions. Its design is durable and reliable.
Designed with future US armed forces operating concepts in mind, the KARGO UAV features a simple design that makes it easy to transport and deploy. The system's compact form factor fits inside a standard shipping container and is designed to be unloaded and operated by just two people. KARGO's autonomous technology originates from the US Department of Defense's Autonomous Aerial Cargo/Utility System (AACUS) program.
“The Kaman KARGO UAV is the only system in its class specifically designed to provide autonomous resupply for deployed Marines, sailors, airmen, soldiers and coast guard personnel in the deadly, changing combat environments that future military operations will bring, or for routine logistics missions. Our service men and women constantly face logistics challenges, which we solve with this reliable, maintainable and affordable solution”
KARGO, designed for cost-effective cargo transport in a comfortable container configuration or on external slings, can fly up to 968 km without payload on its own. Its maximum payload capacity is 363 kg. An aircraft of this size and class also has many commercial applications and is part of a growth strategy that includes a family of purpose-built KARGO devices for several repeatable tasks.
Over the past six months, flight development tests of a scaled KARGO demonstrator were completed to validate the aircraft design, and flight tests of the full-scale UAV are planned for 2022.
KARGO uses commercial off-the-shelf components as well as thousands of hours of automated and autonomous flight data from the Kaman K-MAX TITAN program to reduce schedule and technical risks.
Kaman has selected Near Earth Autonomy as a partner in the KARGO UAV pilot program. Through continuous and simultaneous collaboration between the two companies in US Marine Corps units, Near Earth will provide obstacle avoidance and other technologies, such as precision landing, detect-and-avoid, and navigation in GPS-denied environments.
“We are very pleased to bring this advanced, game-changing technology to market and to draw on Kaman's 75-year history as a pioneer in the aerospace and defense industries. Our vision is to move our customers forward by presenting and delivering high-tech products that solve the most complex challenges”
Today, Americans resupply friendly units by dropping cargo from transport aircraft on parachutes. The military also has disposable gliders capable of delivering loads weighing 227-254 kg. With the introduction of cargo UAVs, resupplying units located in remote places, on islands and spread across fairly large areas will become easier.
Founded in 1945, Kaman Corporation operates in the aerospace, defense, industrial and medical markets. The company manufactures and sells:
- patented aviation bearings and components
- ultra-precision miniature ball bearings
- proprietary spring seals, springs and contacts
- complex metal and composite aircraft structures for fixed-wing and rotary-wing civil, military and other aircraft
- safe and armed solutions for missile and bomb systems for the US armed forces and their allies
- subcontracted helicopter work
- refurbishment, modification and sustainment of SH-2G Super Seasprite naval helicopters
- production and support of manned and unmanned medium- and heavy-lift K-MAX helicopters
Near Earth's technology enables aircraft to take off, fly and land autonomously safely with or without GPS. The company's solutions provide air mobility and inspection applications for partners in the commercial and defense sectors. Near Earth bridges the gap between the aerospace industry and robotics with complete systems that improve the efficiency, performance and safety of aircraft, from small drones to full-size helicopters.
Near Earth's work received the Howard Hughes Award in 2018, which recognizes outstanding improvements in fundamental helicopter technology. The company was also a finalist for the Collier Trophy in 2017, one of the world's top aviation awards.
