Lockheed Martin have came out with the K-MAX unmanned helicopter to help transport supplies to troops in remote areas. Being unmanned, no soldiers are at risk of being killed in a routine but essential supply run as compared to travelling in an armed convoy. Note the unique twin rotor arrangement.

K-MAX


As far as i know, ST have unmanned land vehicles designed to or can be adapted for transporting supplies. Maybe this K-Max helicopter could prove to be useful for our 3G SAF.

Range vis payload is a concern. Useful load of 2.8 tons only for 50nm (93 km), thereafter it drops to 2.2 to 2.4 tons up to 150nm (277 km) which should be still within rsaf scope of ops but still very light.

http://www.kamanaero.com/images/PDFs/K-MAX...%2020050727.pdf

Compared to other helos, fuel burn is lower. Truck uses 20% or less fuel consumption but ~50-70% less speed and road bound (not in a straight line).

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Separately on the bright side, US army envisions to convert all roles, attack, armed recon and cargo resupply to unmanned platforms by 2035.

http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2010/...ircraft-by.html

Reviving this thread..

The Fire-X Vertical Unmanned Aircraft System, a bigger platform than the K-MAX..

--> Video - Fire-X Vertical Unmanned Aircraft System

--> Fire-X VUAS Data Sheet

If it's one way delivery, better to use GPS-guided parachutes.

http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/13/gps-par...the-coming-yea/

Seems like a better solution than KMAX!

1) The helicopter itself is already avaliable and supported by Bell logistically worldwide.

2) Internal storage

3) Can handle bigger payload

4) Allows forklift to load pallets easily

5) Medical Evac

Japanese UAV power glider....think a similar product from Israel was posted here before.

http://uav.xenocross.net/xenoppg-e.html

Payload/range limited though.