K-MAX flies in Afghanistan.

The Lockheed Martin K-MAX has been flown by the US Marine Corp  “out to one of the forward operating bases without a load,” Lockheed Martin’s Jeffrey Brown tells Aviation Week. “These flights were test flights in preparation for sustained operations.”

Adm. Bill Shannon, program executive officer for Unmanned Aviation and Strike Weapons, approved Lockheed Martin/Kaman’s K-MAX unmanned helicopter for a six-month deployment to augment Marine Corps ground and air logistics operations last October.

“I am very excited to deploy a system that will keep our Marines and Sailors out of harm’s way and ultimately save lives,” said Shannon.

Prior to Shannon’s decision, Commander Operational Test and Evaluation Force released a report documenting the system’s favorable performance during a quick reaction assessment in Yuma, Ariz., in August. Marine Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Squadron (VMU) 1, Cargo Resupply Unmanned Aircraft System (CRUAS) Det. conducted the QRA, which replicated a week in the life of operations in Afghanistan with temperatures, flight profile and terrain almost identical to those planned for deployment.

“Coming out to test and field K-MAX has been one of the most exciting opportunities of my career,” said Staff Sgt. Marc Cox, an air vehicle operator (AVO) from the detachment. “We are literally the tip of the spear in terms of the development and advancement of this particular cargo UAS and all future unmanned rotary wing systems.”

Results from the QRA confirmed that K-MAX exceeded the Navy and Marines’ requirement to carry 6,000 pounds of cargo per day over a five-day period. The system carried a total of 33,400 pounds of cargo during the assessment period, with nearly 3,500 pounds delivered in a single mission.

The K-MAX was also suggested as a support aircraft for the Fukushima incident earlier this year.