Lockheed and Kaman have demonstrated teaming of different types of unmanned aircraft.
In this case, the demonstration involved firefighting by an Indago quad-rotor and a K-MAX helicopter. “During the demonstration, the Indago quad rotor effectively identified hot spots, and provided data to an operator who directed the unmanned K-MAX helicopter to autonomously extinguish the flames,” said a Lockheed announcement. “In one hour, the unmanned K-MAX helicopter lifted and dropped more than 24,000 pounds of water onto the fire.”
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“This demonstration signifies the potential for adapting proven unmanned systems and their advanced sensors and mission suites to augment manned firefighting operations, more than doubling the amount of time on station,” said Kaman CEO Neal Keating.
