Marine Corps' Unmanned Programmable Copter Passes First Major Test

This is an exciting step forward for our soldiers in combat.

Although the K-MAX is an ugly chopper, it can certainly get the job done.

Fully fuel with no cargo it is only 2721 kg / 6000lb. With full external load it would weight 5216 kg / 12000lb. It can basically move it's own weight in cargo which is highly efficient.

Add to that the cargo is under-slung you have a very rapid deployment of the cargo as it can just be dropped and the chopper can be gone in a matter of seconds.

--GTO--

and why cant we make uav cars?

Hey first of UAV's aren't cars because UAV's are unmanned aerial vehicles a car isn't an unmanned aerial vehicle. Normal cars that is.

first sentance supposed to be "first of ALL"

I hope the KMAX can perform well at high altitudes. It's easy to lift things at sea level, but the air is pretty thin up in Afghanistan.

ding dnog...Skynet calling.

sorry...supposed to be "ding-dong". gotta learn to use the preview more.

trireme

Totally correct in your assessment. Most aircraft mishaps in Afghanistan is due to the high altitude of FOBs and the terrain in general. The thin air makes it especially difficult for rotary aircraft to fly. And al Qaeda tends to like those mountains, caverns and such because it puts us more on equal ground with them. We can't really take an Abrams or an IFV up into the mountains, so we gotta hoof it just like them.

It can carry 1500 lbs up to 12000 ft and hover. It did this at the demo!!!!

couldn't they have used the fire scout they just cancelled

Wonder is its radio,IR,or server controlled

unmanned ground vehicles (UGV) are being developed. but unmanned driving is a lot harder, because there is a lot more clutter to take into account (road holes, tree trunks, people, animals, traffic...) compared to flying (bad weather which is easy to avoid, birds and other aircraft which are rare and relatively easy to avoid)

undoubtedly high altitude operations are factored into the K-Max program. for example its competitor is the Boeing A160, which is known for its capacity to operate at high altitudes (and long endurance). the A160 carries less than the K-Max, but can fly longer and faster, an interesting trade off

the Fire Scout is not an option because it's a much lighter craft (half the weight and size I think)

personally I think they should get all three types: the Fire Scout for recon and light attack, A160 for surveillance/attack missions/covert operation/emergencies (wounded transport, crashed pilot retrieval) and the K-Max for transportation

and Skynet can't do much with these until it can maintain and arm them without human help. automated arming is on its way, but maintenance is many decades away