Kaman Awarded Contract to Reactivate USMC K-MAX® Helicopters
Kaman Aerospace, the Aerospace segment of Kaman Corporation (NYSE: KAMN), today announced that it has been awarded a contract to return two United States Marine Corps (USMC) K-MAX aircraft to flight operations.
Kaman Aerospace, the Aerospace segment of Kaman Corporation (NYSE:
KAMN), today announced that it has been awarded a contract to return two
United States Marine Corps (USMC) K-MAX® aircraft to flight
operations. Kaman Aerospace will transport the two helicopters from
Yuma, Arizona, where they are currently located, to Bloomfield,
Connecticut, where they will be reactivated to flight-ready status.
The two helicopters, designated as CQ-24A, served in Afghanistan during
Operation Enduring Freedom from 2011 to 2013, and exclusively flew
unmanned missions. In the 33 months the unmanned K-MAX® was
deployed to Afghanistan on combat resupply and logistical support
missions, it moved over 4.5 million pounds of cargo throughout
Afghanistan between forward operating bases and remote outposts.
Operating exclusively during nighttime hours, these unmanned missions
replaced the equivalent of 900 convoys and eliminated 46,000 hours of
exposure to IEDs, direct fire, and other threat to troops on dangerous
roads. The current unmanned system on the Marine CQ-24A aircraft will be
replaced with new technology advancements.
The Marine Corps recently finalized plans to return the two CQ-24A K-MAX®
helicopters to flight readiness and install the latest autonomous
technology to support future unmanned efforts. Once the aircraft are
operational, the USMC and Kaman will continue to collaborate to develop
and integrate next-generation autonomous technology.
Kaman Aerospace continues to improve the design of Optionally Piloted
Vehicles (OPVs) for future commercial applications, with plans to
provide this capability as an option for future new and existing
aircraft. “We are honored to have the opportunity to pair manned and
unmanned capabilities to support our deployed troops and government
agencies at home. We have also identified a number of missions that will
benefit from unmanned capabilities, including aerial firefighting and
humanitarian relief, and are looking forward to aligning with domestic
and international operators in need of these capabilities,” said Darlene
Smith, Vice President and General Manager of the Kaman Air Vehicles &
MRO division.
Development of the K-MAX® aircraft was led by Kaman
founder and former CEO, aviation pioneer Charlie H. Kaman, and received
Federal Aviation Administration certification in 1994. The K-MAX®
is a rugged low-maintenance aircraft that features a counter-rotating
rotor system and is optimized for cyclical, external load operations.
The aircraft can lift up to 6,000 pounds (2,722 kg).
About Kaman Aerospace
Kaman Aerospace is a division of Kaman Corporation (NYSE:KAMN), which
was founded in 1945 by aviation pioneer Charles H. Kaman. Headquartered
in Bloomfield, Connecticut, Kaman Corporation conducts business in the
aerospace and distribution markets. Kaman Corporation (NYSE:KAMN), which
was founded in 1945 by aviation pioneer Charles H. Kaman. Headquartered
in Bloomfield, Connecticut, Kaman Corporation conducts business in the
aerospace and distribution markets. The company produces and/or markets
widely used proprietary aircraft bearings and components; super
precision, miniature ball bearings; complex metallic and composite
aerostructures for commercial, military and general aviation fixed and
rotary wing aircraft; safe and arm solutions for missile and bomb
systems for the U.S. and allied militaries; subcontract helicopter work;
production of the K-MAX® medium-to-heavy lift
helicopter and support for the company's SH-2G Super Seasprite maritime
aircraft. More information is available at www.kaman.com.
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