Jay Clemens
Lockheed Martin and Kaman have showcased the firefighting capability of an unmanned helicopter.
The Indago quad rotor worked to determine hot spots and a K-MAX helicopter operator directed the aircraft to extinguish the flames with more than 24,000 pounds of water during the demonstration, Lockheed Martin said Tuesday.
“The unmanned K-MAX and Indago aircraft can work to fight fires day and night, in all weather, reaching dangerous areas without risking a life,†said Dan Spoor, vice president of aviation and unmanned systems at Lockheed Martin’s mission systems and training business.
Lockheed Martin and Kaman built the K-MAX aircraft with a twin-rotor to aid in firefighting and resupply operations.
The unmanned system also incorporates an electro-optic/infrared camera to locate hot spots and gimbaled imager to send data and situational awareness to operators.
