Lockheed tests firefighting capability of unmanned helicopters

Lockheed Martin together with Kaman demonstrated the use of unmanned Indago quad rotor and K-MAX helicopter in fire fighting missions.

During the tests, the Indago quad rotor successfully detected hot spots, and delivered data to an operator directing the unmanned K-MAX helicopter to autonomously snuff out the flames by dipping water from a pond and accurately deliver it to the fire location.

Lockheed Martin Mission Systems and Training business Aviation and Unmanned Systems vice-president Dan Spoor said: "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."

Lockheed claims that the unmanned K-MAX helicopter was able to lift and drop over 24,000lb of water onto the fire within an hour.

Kaman chairman president and chief executive officer Neal Keating said: "This demonstration signifies the potential for adapting proven unmanned systems and their advanced sensors and mission suites to augment manned firefighting operations, more than doubling the amount of time on station."

Kaman built unmanned K-MAX helicopter integrates Lockheed’s advanced mission suite, and its electro-optic/infrared (EO/IR) camera enables it to locate hot spots and assign the location to its operator for water drops at that location.

Image:The unmanned K-MAX during the firefighting mission. Photo: courtesy of Lockheed Martin Corporation.