Unmanned K-Max Tested for Firefighting | Aviation International News

Unmanned K-Max Tested for Firefighting

The Indago can be used by firefighters to identify hot spots more precisely through heavy smoke and then transmit that data back to the remote operator.

During recent tests in one hour, the unmanned K-Max lifted and dropped more than 24,000 pounds of water onto the target fire.

By Mark Huber • Contributor

December 11, 2014

Lockheed Martin and Kaman completed testing an unmanned K-Max heavy-lift helicopter paired with an Indago quad-rotor drone for firefighting operations in November. During the demonstration, the Indago quad-rotor effectively identified hot spots and provided data to an operator who directed the unmanned K-Max to autonomously extinguish the flames. In one hour, the unmanned K-Max lifted and dropped more than 24,000 pounds of water onto the target fire.

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