The US Navy has demonstrated unmanned cargo delivery to a moving ship for the first time.
The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division demonstration saw multiple unmanned aerial systems (UAS) delivering cargo weighing less than 50 pounds (22.7 kilograms), accounting for 90 percent of navy logistics deliveries.
The Skyways Air Transportation, Inc. and Martin UAV drones made ship-to-ship, ship-to-shore, and shore-to-ship flights over 200 nautical miles (370 kilometers or 230 miles) during the demonstration.
The unmanned platforms are capable of vertical-take-off-and-landing from most naval ships and do not require dedicated launch and recovery equipment.
Cost Reduction, Greater Efficiency
Logistics issues such as electronic parts and assemblies are responsible for warships moving to non-mission capable or partially mission capable status, according to navy historical data.
Currently, tactical aircraft like the H-60 helicopter and V-22 tilt-rotor aircraft fly these missions, considered to be less efficient and much more costly.
Unmanned Logistics
“For the Marine Corps, the commandant is enthusiastic about where we are going with unmanned logistics, and is beginning conversations about operations and contested environments,” Small Tactical Unmanned Aircraft Systems program manager Col. Victor Argobright said.
“The navy is currently identifying areas where unmanned logistics would be a critical enabler to operations at sea, and the Blue Water Maritime Logistics UAS is a great demonstration of this emerging requirement.”
