The US Navy recently presented a million-dollar 100 project for some of these helicopters already commissioned for the Marine Corps.
The helicopters will be operational within the next four years. According to the Naval Research of the US Navy, a marine, without any experience, will be able to fly the helicopter in a few minutes.
The goal is to guarantee the supply to the forces in the field, without risking the lives of the pilots and flight personnel, as well as that of the convoy soldiers.
According to data released by the US military, every 24 convoy is killed by a soldier.
The application will allow the user to pilot the helicopter and manage all communications with ground forces and the command center.
To date, three helicopters have been modified for autonomous flight while Lockheed - Martin and Aurora Flight Sciences are developing a new type of unmanned remote-controlled aircraft.
The Marines have already operated with the K-Max, an unmanned helicopter used in Afghanistan, but the platform proved too complex and required only experienced pilots. The Marines have purchased two K-Max helicopters for just under 50 million dollars, losing one in June of the 2013 during an autonomous flight.
The new system will be able to land and take off independently, identifying the best landing point thanks to its electro-optical sensors.
Within the next four years, unmanned helicopters will be given the ability to fly and land in all-weather conditions.
Franco Iacch
(in the photo the Lockheed Martin K-Max)
