News Review: US Navy awards cargo UAS contract | ADM Feb 2011
The US Navy has awarded two fixed-price contracts to Boeing/Frontier Systems and Lockheed Martin for Cargo Unmanned Aircraft System services for US$29.9 and US$45.8 million, respectively.
Both contracts include development of two air vehicles, three remote ground control stations and a Quick Reaction Assessment (QRA) to be held in the northern summer of 2011.
Each contract also includes a separate fixed-price option for a six-month deployment. Immediately following a successful QRA, one contractor’s in-country service option will be exercised and their system will deploy to Afghanistan on Operation Enduring Freedom.
Boeing will provide two A160T Hummingbird unmanned vehicles, three ground control stations, spares, training and support.
Earlier this year Boeing demonstrated the A160T’s ability to deliver at least 2,500 pounds of cargo from one simulated forward-operating base to another base 75 nautical miles away in less than the required six hours.
The simulated mission delivered 1,250-pound sling loads over two 150-nautical-mile round trips, with the A160T operating autonomously on a preprogrammed mission.
Lockheed Martin has teamed with Kaman Aerospace to offer an unmanned variant of the latter’s K-MAX cargo helicopter.
The unmanned K-MAX has demonstrated its ability to carry and deliver 6,000 pounds of cargo at sea level and more than 4,000 pounds at 10,000 feet altitude.
The partners say the aircraft can also deliver more cargo to more locations in one flight than any other unmanned rotary wing aircraft.
Its intermeshing rotors eliminate the need for a tail rotor and allow for significantly improved lift performance and lower maintenance costs.
The Cargo UAS services contract is in response to an urgent needs requirement in support of US Marine Corps forces in Afghanistan.
This capability will augment ground and air logistics operations, supplement rotary-wing assets and reduce warfighters’ exposure to improvised explosive devices in theatre.