The US Marine Corps has contracted Kaman Air Vehicles to develop a military version of its autonomous medium-lift logistics KARGO UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle).
After the prototype is completed, the drone will undergo a Field User Capability Assessment, in which it will perform operations in a mission-relevant test environment.
Kaman started the construction of its KARGO UAV in 2021 and flew a scaled demonstrator the same year. A full-scale demonstrator is expected to take its maiden flight later this year.
“We have been tracking the need for expeditionary logistics for some time,” Kaman Precision Product President Carroll Lane said.
“And we are thrilled to see our focused R&D efforts to provide an affordable, reliable, and maintainable logistics vehicle come into alignment with such an important program as MULS-A.”
Kaman’s KARGO UAV
KARGO UAV can carry up to 800 pounds (363 kilograms) of payload and is built for missions in austere conditions.
It has a compact, rugged design that fits in a standard CONEX shipping box container, according to Kaman.
In addition, the KARGO UAV can be unloaded and operated by as few as two personnel.