The Growing Role Of Robots In Military Logistics

Marines In Afghanistan Tout Unmanned Supply Helicopter -- Stars and Stripes

WASHINGTON — Ammunition was running low on a base in Afghanistan’s Helmand province that had come under sustained attack in January, and the Marine Corps sent in a robot to help.

Within six hours of the call for resupply, an unmanned Lockheed Martin/Kaman K-MAX helicopter was on its way to drop off a load of 60mm mortar rounds. The following day, the K-MAX — able to fly itself in and out of danger using GPS coordinates — returned with a load of 40mm grenades.

Marine aviators could have flown a massive CH-53 cargo helicopter on both missions, but it would have meant touching down twice in a hot landing zone, said Maj. Daniel Lindblom, operations officer for Marine Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Squadron 3, currently operating out in Regional Command-Southwest.

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My Comment: I can understand why commanders prefer to use these craft .... if the helicopter is shot down in a hot zone, there will be no loss of human life.