BLOOMFIELD, Conn., Sept. 4 (UPI) -- The U.S. Marine Corps has contracted Kaman Corp. to demonstrate its unmanned helicopter system designed to deliver cargo to troops in harsh environments.
U.S. company Kaman says its Aerospace subsidiary's helicopter division was awarded the contract from the Marine Corps. The $864,000 deal is part of an initiative to support the K-Max team, which includes Kaman and U.S. defense contractor Lockheed Martin.
Officials say Kaman will award a Lockheed Martin subcontract to integrate a beyond-line-of-sight data link into the unmanned K-Max helicopter ahead of a demonstration for the Marine Corps. The helicopter technology is designed to deliver cargo to troops in extreme environments like forward operating bases in Afghanistan.
"The demonstration of the unmanned K-Max for the Marine Corps is an important step for the program," Neal Keating, Kaman chairman, president and chief executive officer, said in a statement.
"We believe the aircraft is uniquely qualified for the resupply mission to take our troops off the roads and pilots out of the air in Afghanistan."
