Thursday, October 1, 2009

USAF Gets Interested in Unmanned Cargo

Photo: An Air Force MQ-9 Reaper from the 62nd Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron takes off March 13 from Kandahar Air Base, Afghanistan, for a mission in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. (Staff Sgt. James L. Harper Jr./US Air Force)

From Ares/Aviation Week:


I've said it before, but cargo looks to be shaping up as the next "killer app" for unmanned aircraft. The US Marine Corps has picked the Boeing A160 and Lockheed Martin/Kaman K-Max helicopters for an unmanned cargo demonstration with a view to early deployment to Afghanistan to resupply hard-to-reach forward bases. Now the US Air Force's Air Mobility Command is seeking ideas for unmanned cargo aircraft concepts and plans an industry day for interested contractors at Scott AFB on November 17.

Read more ....

My Comment: The Ares blog is correct .... cargo looks to be shaping up as the next "killer app" for unmanned aircraft. There are not only military applications, but also civilian, and the applications are unlimited.

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