Friday, December 6, 2013

K-Max Unmanned Helicopters Transport Cargo in Afghanistan

(Thanks to Richard from Facebook for pointing out that the video shows them using a Getac laptop, and not a Toughbook. Thank goodness we have readers who are more attentive than I am!)

Since December 2011, under contract with the United States Marine Corps, Lockheed Martin has been operating a new kind of "drone" in Afghanistan. Converted from a cargo-lifting machine and operated using a Toughbook Getac computer, the K-Max can fly up to 15,000 feet carrying up to 6,000 pounds -- its own body weight. Over a 15-month period, the two units currently in operation carried three million pounds of supplies. Given the K-Max's success thus far, Lockheed is hoping to strike a formal deal with either the Marines or the U.S. Army to put at least six more unmanned helicopters in the air.


For more information, check out the article at AIN Online.

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