Cargo Drone Prototype in Development for US Marine Corps

Kaman Air Vehicles is developing a funded military version of its KARGO UAV, a purpose-built autonomous medium-lift logistics vehicle that can carry up to 800 pounds of payload and is designed to operate in austere environments By DA Staff / 13 Oct 2022

Cargo Drones

Discover cutting-edge solutions from 4 leading global suppliers
SUPPLIER SPOTLIGHT
Kaman KARGO UAV
Follow DA

Kaman Air Vehicles, a division of Kaman Corporation, has been selected to build a logistics Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) prototype for the US Marine Corps. 

The company will build a funded military version of its KARGO UAV, a purpose-built autonomous medium-lift logistics vehicle that can carry up to 800 pounds of payload and is designed to operate in austere environments.

The US Marine Corps project is being managed by NAVAIR PMA-263 under the Medium Unmanned Logistics Systems – Air (MULS-A) program. Once the prototype is constructed, KARGO UAV will complete a Field User Capability Assessment conducted in an operationally relevant test environment.

Kaman began development of its KARGO UAV in 2021 and flew a scaled demonstrator in Fall of 2021 to prove out the concept. A full-scale demonstrator is under construction, and first flight is scheduled for late 2022.

Near Earth Autonomy, from Pittsburgh, PA was selected as the autonomy provider on KARGO UAV, and parallel testing is ongoing for the autonomy systems that will be employed on the Marine Corps prototype.

Built with the Marines’ future operating concept in mind, KARGO UAV offers rugged design optimized for expeditionary employment. Compact form-factor of the system fits in a standard CONEX shipping container and is designed to be unloaded and operated by as few as two people.

“We have been tracking the need for expeditionary logistics for some time,” said Carroll Lane, President of Kaman’s Precision Products segment. “And we are thrilled to see our focused R&D efforts to provide an affordable, reliable, and maintainable logistics vehicle come into alignment with such an important program as MULS-A.” 

Posted by DA Staff Connect & Contact

Latest Articles

Tyto Robotics: Propeller Balancing Methods for UAVs

Tyto Robotics highlights how static, dynamic, and aerodynamic propeller balancing methods correct vibration-related issues in UAV systems

May 12, 2025
Meltio Expands Metal Additive Manufacturing Presence to Portugal

Meltio has partnered with PrimeOut to drive metal 3D printing commercialization and integration in Portugal

May 12, 2025
Creomagic Partnership Delivers Integrated Tactical Communications & Surveillance System

Creomagic and RT LTA have partnered to develop SkyCnet, an integrated aerostat-based system that enhances tactical communications and situational awareness for defense and security operations

May 12, 2025
MIL-STD-461-Ready Rugged Computers at FEINDEF 2025

Neousys and Cenvalsa to showcase extreme-rugged, MIL-STD-461-ready computers at FEINDEF 2025 in Madrid, 12th to 14th May at booth 6A03

May 12, 2025
Precision Inertial Navigation Solutions for GPS-Denied Operations

ANELLO Photonics is a developer of cutting-edge inertial navigation solutions that enable military vehicles, aircraft, naval vessels and other platforms...

May 12, 2025
DTC & Idaho National Laboratory to Advance Secure Mission-Critical Communications

DTC and Idaho National Laboratory have partnered under a CRADA to develop secure, resilient communication technologies for mission-critical defense and national security operations

May 12, 2025

Featured Content

U.S. Army Partnership Advances Autonomous Helicopter Logistics Program

The U.S. Army is partnering with Honeywell and Near Earth Autonomy to retrofit Black Hawk helicopters with scalable autonomy kits for uncrewed logistics operations

May 08, 2025
Modular Head-Mounted Digital System for Real-Time Decision Support in Contested Environments

Galvion's new CORTEX™ system integrates compute, power, and data management into a modular helmet-mounted platform designed for modern tactical operations.

May 06, 2025
Partnership to Enhance Networking Capabilities for Defense Platforms

Amphenol Aerospace and BotBlox have partnered to distribute and integrate compact, rugged Ethernet hardware for defense platforms, enhancing networking capabilities and accelerating product development for uncrewed and mobile systems

May 01, 2025
Advancing Defense Capability Through Strategic Collaboration Defense Advancement works with major OEMs to foster collaboration and increase engagement with SMEs, to accelerate innovation and drive defense capabilities forward.