Unmanned K-MAX helicopter could get Afghanistan role (BBC)

[eppur_se_muova]

By Dan Cairns
Newsbeat reporter

An unmanned helicopter designed to lift supplies and equipment to troops in Afghanistan is being developed for the US military.

The Kaman K-MAX helicopter has been adapted by defence company Lockheed Martin to fly without a pilot and can carry up to 6,000lbs of cargo - more than the aircraft's empty weight.

Transporting equipment to troops at Forward Operating Bases on the frontline would be the K-MAX's primary use.

It would help reduce the need for large vehicle convoys lowering the risk of soldiers being ambushed or injured by IEDs (improvised explosive devices).
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more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/11098977




Not the sort of thing I normally post, but it caught my eye after the two threads from yesterday re an 'escaped' helicopter drone:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=4518062&mesg_id=4518062
http://demopedia.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=9016446&mesg_id=9016446