I've said it before, but cargo looks to be shaping up as the next "killer app" for unmanned aircraft. The US Marine Corps has picked the Boeing A160 and Lockheed Martin/Kaman K-Max helicopters for an unmanned cargo demonstration with a view to early deployment to Afghanistan to resupply hard-to-reach forward bases. Now the US Air Force's Air Mobility Command is seeking ideas for unmanned cargo aircraft concepts and plans an industry day for interested contractors at Scott AFB on November 17.
Information gleaned will be the basis for an AMC submission for 2011 funding of an advanced technology demonstration, according to the RFI. An RFI is not a procurement program, but it is an indication the service is interested in the potential for unmanned cargo. AMC's interest, according to the RFI, is in concepts for air delivery of critical supplies directly to the "point of need", potentially under fire.
Here's what AMC is looking for:
"Conceptually, the unmanned air vehicle should autonomously deliver 500-3000 lbs of cargo to a strategic combat radius of 500 nautical miles, at airspeeds of 250 knots (or equivalent Mach number) or greater, with a VTOL/STOL capability of 300 feet. Other attributes could include an air launched glide capability, powered capability, ship-based/recoverable capable, unprepared surface landing capable, skid landing, floatation capable, reusable, and inexpensive."
It's an interesting set of attributes. Speed-wise, 250kt puts it beyond the reach of a conventional unmanned helicopter and an air-launched glide capability would appear to rule out any rotorcraft concept (other than stop- or stop/fold rotor). It puts me in mind of Northrop Grumman's mysterious MUVR fan-in-wing concept, apparently designed for ship-based cargo delivery. But they want it to be inexpensive, so maybe something as simple as tilting props or jets...
I'm seeing a vehicle that gets kicked out of the back of a C-17 or C-130, with folding wings, enough power to sustain level flight and parafoil-skid landing. Squaddies remove goodies and (if there's time) stuff parafoil in cargo bay. Stand well back, push button and a built-in solid rocket ZELLs the little critter to flying speed, RTBs for re-use. On the other hand, that doesn't work too well for a covert SO team... Maybe balloon lift-off instead.
I should stop trying to do conceptual design on my first cup of coffee...