Lockheed Martin wins up to $47 million to develop unmanned autonomous technologies

Posted by Courtney E. Howard

WASHINGTON, 27 Aug. 2011. Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) won a $47 million U.S. Army contract to develop, demonstrate, and deliver autonomous technologies for unmanned air systems (UASs) in support of in-theater unmanned cargo resupply missions. Lockheed Martin and Kaman Aerospace (NASDAQ GS:KAMN) engineers will use the K-MAX helicopter platform to demonstrate intelligent autonomous technologies for unmanned aerial systems.

"Lockheed Martin's experience, resources and proven K-MAX platform will allow us to meet the Army's objectives," explains Dan Spoor, vice president of Aviation Systems at Lockheed Martin Mission Systems & Sensors. "We are eager to develop and demonstrate the latest autonomous technologies using the mature and low-risk K-MAX platform."

The goal of the Army's Aviation Applied Technology Directorate is to enhance unmanned cargo resupply capabilities through improved autonomous operations, increased delivery accuracy, and reduce ground control station operator workload. Prior to being deployed for cargo resupply missions, the technology will be demonstrated in an operationally realistic environment on the unmanned K-MAX, says a representative.