The Air Force is seeking information from industry about unmanned aircraft capable of delivering critical supplies to deployed troops.
Air Mobility Command’s Future Concepts division will host an “Unmanned Cargo Aircraft Day” on Nov. 17 at Scott AFB, Ill., according to a request for information (RFI) released by the command on Sept. 28.
“Interested contractors, who have experience, knowledge, and/or concepts concerning the development and use (concept of operations) of an unmanned cargo aircraft are invited to present their concepts/ideas to government representatives from AMC, Air Staff, U.S. Transportation Command, U.S. Joint Forces Command, the Air Force Research Laboratory and the U.S. Army,” the RFI states.
According to the announcement, information gathered from “Unmanned Cargo Aircraft Day” will be the basis for an AMC submission for advanced technology demonstration funding in 2011.
“Conceptual attributes would include the capability to deliver critical supplies (ammunition, water, food, etc.) in support of distributed operations, possibly during direct engagement,” the document states.
Further, AMC is seeking a drone that can deliver 500-3,000 pounds of cargo within a radius of 500 nautical miles, at airspeeds of 250 knots or greater, with a vertical take-off and landing or short take-off and landing capability of 300 feet. Other attributes, according to the RFI, could include: an air launched glide, ship-based/recoverable, unprepared surface landing, skid landing, floatation, reusable and inexpensive.
A Marine Corps request for proposals (RFP) for an “Immediate Cargo Unmanned Aerial System” was issued in May. That plan calls for a drone capable of delivering 10 tons of supplies at high altitudes and across a distance of 150 miles within 24 hours. The Marines want to field the new drone next year. The Boeing [BA] A160 Hummingbird and the Lockheed Martin [LMT]/Kaman [AMN] K-Max helicopters are competing for the award.