The Marine Corps is actively seeking medium-sized cargo drones to conduct supply missions across the remote islands of the Pacific. Recently, Piasecki Aircraft announced the acquisition of Kaman Air Vehicles’ KARGO program, which features a medium-lift drone capable of fitting into a standard trailer. This drone can carry a payload of 500 pounds over long distances, or 1,000 pounds for shorter missions, approximately 100 nautical miles. John Piasecki, the president and CEO of Piasecki Aircraft, indicated that these specifications may change as the Marines further evaluate their resupply needs.
Both the Army and the Marines require various types of cargo drones with different payload capacities. This includes smaller drones for short distances, medium-range drones that can handle payloads between 500 and 800 pounds, and potentially even heavier drones with payload requirements extending to 1,400 pounds. Piasecki remarks that the situation remains fluid, and future Marine Corps specifications may evolve as operational requirements become clearer.
Moreover, logistical challenges in the Pacific go beyond distance. Essential supplies such as component parts, food, and fuel necessitate efficient delivery mechanisms. Using manned helicopter pilots for such missions involves substantial costs and risks. Piasecki believes that employing drones for these resupply missions can provide significant value by alleviating the demands placed on high-value helicopter assets.
Kaman has a history of innovating in military cargo delivery, having achieved a major milestone in 2011 with the first flight of the remote-controlled K-Max helicopter in Afghanistan. Despite its success, the K-Max did not evolve into a formal program, as the Marine Corps’ requirements shifted and the vehicle’s limited autonomy became a concern. However, advancements in autonomy have since lessened the dependency on human remote pilots. The modular design of the KARGO drone and its digital backbone allow it to improve continuously with technological advancements, reducing the need for extensive redesign.
The feasibility of such projects has improved, particularly as the commercial market has called for solutions in sectors like mining and oil, where remote locations such as offshore oil rigs face challenges in resupply logistics. Both the Marine Corps and the Army are attempting to move towards smaller, more dispersed units, straying from large formations that are more susceptible to targeting. KARGO-sized drones could enhance this strategy, as the Marines have identified vertical-lift logistics as a crucial capability for supporting distributed operations.
In collaboration with the Marines and the Army, Kaman had demonstrated one of its two prototypes to the Marine Corps last summer and to the Army last fall, showcasing the potential of these drone capabilities.
