US tests transport UAV, vehicle of the future

Transport UAVs are considered the vehicle of the future, helping to carry goods to war zones with minimal risk.

US tests transport UAV, vehicle of the future

Sunday, October 27, 2024 19:39 PM (GMT+7)

Transport UAVs are considered the vehicle of the future, helping to carry goods to war zones with minimal risk.

The US Air Force said it is testing two types of transport UAVs under Project Convergence 2025 to find the optimal vehicle for mass production in the near future. According to Breaking Defense.

“We will have to find ways to efficiently supply different combat formations,” Brigadier General Shane Upton, director of the US Army’s Joint Logistics Group, said in an interview with Breaking Defense.

"The Indo- Pacific region by its very nature encourages this. There is no other option, if we start deploying the firepower of a multinational task force on a remote island chain, we have to provide them with ammunition," according to Breaking Defense.

“It’s clear that the tight conditions of the island chain don’t allow for the deployment of a C-17 heavy transport aircraft or even a traditional medium C-130,” said Brigadier General Upton. To find the best options, the US Army has sent out a request for information from aviation companies about their designs for heavy-lift drones. Of the 24 units that submitted applications, the Pentagon has selected two UAV models to conduct testing next year, according to Breaking Defense.

The name of the drone chosen for testing has not been revealed. However, according to initial information, they can carry about 450 kg of cargo over a distance of 550 - 740 km. According to Breaking Defense.

Currently, the US plan is to use different means to operate in parallel with maritime drones, to explore opportunities to expand the logistics supply chain in the Pacific - Indian Ocean as well as many other regions around the world. According to Breaking Defense.

“We are looking at general use, none of the solutions we develop for the US Army are just for the Pacific - Indian Ocean, the vehicle must also operate in Europe,” added Brigadier General Shane Upton, according to Breaking Defense.

As part of the transport drone test, the new vehicle will also be compared with a project to install a remote control unit on a CH-47 Chinook heavy-lift helicopter, according to Breaking Defense.

“The budget allocated to us is quite large, but you have to be able to buy everything and still scale as you need. We need smaller and more mobile vehicles,” according to Breaking Defense.

“We need drones that can carry cargo. And you can’t spend $50, $60, or $70 million on a UAV just to do that,” the US general added, according to Breaking Defense.

Intensive testing is expected to be conducted next year, when the public will have a clearer view of the US Air Force's mysterious Project Convergence 2025, according to Breaking Defense.

But it is expected that the work will have to be deployed quickly so that the US does not fall behind China, because Beijing recently tested its first transport drone model. The above-mentioned Chinese UAV has the ability to carry a maximum of about 2 tons of cargo, can operate at low altitudes, does not need complex airport infrastructure... in general, this is an extremely promising vehicle. According to Breaking Defense.

PV (according to ANTĐ)

Source: https://danviet.vn/my-thu-nghiem-uav-van-tai-phuong-tien-cua-tuong-lai-2024102719322466.htm