Piasecki Aircraft Acquires Kaman Air Vehicles' KARGO UAV Program

• Piasecki Aircraft Corporation has announced the acquisition of Kaman Air Vehicles' KARGO UAV program, expanding its portfolio of vertical lift and cargo UAS solutions. KARGO UAV is a medium-lift, autonomous unmanned aerial vehicle that has been demonstrated to both the U.S. Marine Corps and U.S. Army for its cargo VTOL capabilities, with successful autonomous lift and flight testing under military evaluation programs.

Designed for operations in contested and remote environments, KARGO UAV has completed initial military contracts and is poised to disrupt both defense and commercial cargo transport.

KARGO UAV is a dual-use system built for agile logistics-whether in combat zones or remote commercial operations. Engineered for versatility, it features a compact footprint, allowing for easy transport and rapid deployment in austere environments. KARGO UAV is optimized for autonomous operations, utilizing advanced flight controls and modular payload integration. The system is designed to meet the needs of the Department of Defense and commercial customers that demand affordable and reliable logistics support. Its robust construction, adaptability, and small logistical footprint position it as a key solution for augmenting efficiency in remote and tactical settings.

KARGO UAV recently demonstrated autonomous cargo lift for the U.S. Army and completed fully autonomous flight testing using Near Earth Autonomy's Peregrine system. With an initial $12 million award from the U.S. Marine Corps Marine Corps Autonomous Resupply Vehicle - Expeditionary Logistics Program (MARV-EL), two full-scale prototypes, and demand projected to exceed 300 aircraft, Piasecki aims to accelerate development testing, towards a production variant to meet growing demand from both military and commercial customers.

The addition of Kaman's advanced UAV technology aligns seamlessly with Piasecki's existing rotorcraft portfolio, enhancing its ability to deliver cutting-edge cargo transport solutions to both military and commercial sectors. Piasecki will acquire all intellectual property and assets associated with the program and will relocate all R&D and operational activities to Piasecki's state-of-the-art Heliplex facility in Coatesville, Pennsylvania.

"This was a strategic decision to ensure that Kaman's impressive UAV technology finds a home where it can thrive," said Ross Sealfon, President and CEO of Kaman Corporation. "Piasecki's reputation for innovation and commercialization in vertical flight solutions makes them the ideal company to take KARGO UAV to market."

Source: Piasecki Aircraft Corporation