Unmanned helicopter Afghanistan-bound

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OWEGO, N.Y., Oct. 7 (UPI) -- The unmanned K-MAX by Lockheed Martin and Kaman is being deployed to Afghanistan next month by the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps.

The decision follows the completion of a five-day Quick Reaction Assessment for the U.S. Navy's Cargo Unmanned Aircraft Systems program, which showed the K-MAX exceeds the Navy and Marines' requirement to deliver 6,000 pounds of cargo per day.

"This announcement underscores K-MAX's strong performance and the strength of the Lockheed Martin/Kaman team," said Dan Spoor, vice president of Aviation Systems in Lockheed Martin's Mission Systems and Sensors.

"We are fully prepared to deploy our system and augment Marine Corps ground and air logistics in Afghanistan."

Since partnering in 2007, Lockheed Martin and Kaman Aerospace have transformed Kaman's proven K-MAX power-lift manned helicopter into a UAS capable of autonomous or remote-controlled cargo delivery.

Kaman designed the K-MAX platform, and Lockheed Martin has designed the helicopter's mission management and control system.