News

Singapore 2010: USMC unmanned cargo trials begin well

February 04, 2010

Following on from contracts announced in August last year the US Marine Corps (USMC)  Warfighting Laboratory (MCWL) has completed the first of two evaluations aimed at realising a deployable unmanned cargo capability.

Speaking to Uvonline.com at the Singapore Air Show the head of MCWL, Brig Gen Robert Hedelund, said that 'this slice of capability showed great promise for the marine corps.,' and that a capability could be in theatre within a year.

The contracts for the Immediate Cargo UAS evaluation where awarded to Boeing and a Kaman Aerospace/Lockheed Martin team on 9 August 2009. The aim of the project was to demonstrate the technology capability as it pertained to cargo loads. The objective of the exercise is to circumvent some of the vulnerability of convoy resupply in both Afghanistan and Iraq. 'Whether it's one box in  a truck or 100 boxes you still need the truck and the forces to protect it,' Hedelund states.

The first to go through the evaluation process at Dugway Proving Ground was the Kaman/LM team with an unmanned version of the K-MAX heavy lift helicopter. The objective of the evaluation was to prove that the aircraft could deliver at least 2,500lbs of cargo in a six hour period beyond line of site to a location 75 nautical miles from the origin.

The K-MAX was able to deliver a 3,200-3,500lb load made up of four separate pallets to four different locations in the specified time. Hedelund described the aircraft as well adapted to the tough requirements set out by the USMC. 'It's a pretty robust platform that is capable of lifting more than it weighs,' he states.

The K-MAX was developed from an original manned platform. During the trials the aircraft was flown remotely by an operator seated in a ground control station. The next aircraft to be evaluated at Dugway will be Boeing's A-160T. Unlike the K-MAX the A-160T was designed as an unmanned system and arguably has a higher level of autonomy. However, also unlike K-MAX it was designed predominantly as an intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance platform rather than as a cargo carrier and is being fitted with a cargo hook specifically for the trial.

Hedelund believes that getting an unmanned cargo capability in to the field will undoubtedly save the lives of marines. The aim is to be able to supply both remote forward operating bases and larger installations without the recourse to as many land convoys exposed to the threat of improvised explosive devices. However, he acknowledges that unmanned resupply could fall prey to a revision of enemy tactics. 'Predictability breeds vulnerability. But you'd be losing an unmanned system, even though it is costly, rather than lives,' he states.

Hedelund believes that if the trials are successful then there is the potential of getting a system fielded within a year. 'It is a difficult one and there are a lot of factors, but I think that is achievable.' he states.

Although this is about equipping the USMC for the current war Hedelund's command is aware of the need to look beyond involvement in Afghanistan. 'We need to also be looking at getting back to our amphibious roots, which means proper coordination between the marine corps and the navy,' he states. Hedelund has no doubt that unmanned lift will play a part in the USMC's amphibious future. 'It has the potential to free up valuable manned lift and also means potentially that you could begin the re-supply effort straight away,' he concludes.

By Darren Lake, Singapore