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’re going to have to figure out how to efficiently supply different combat formations,” Brigadier General Shane Upton, director of the US Army’s Joint Logistics Group, told Breaking Defense in an interview.

"The Indo-Pacific region by its very nature encourages this. There is no other choice, 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 conditions of the island chain are too tight to allow for the deployment of a traditional C-17 heavy-lift transport aircraft or even a C-130 medium-lift aircraft,” Upton said. 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 that submitted applications, the Pentagon has selected two UAV models for 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 logistics supply chains 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 has to operate in Europe as well,” Brigadier General Shane Upton added. 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 we have is pretty big, but you have to be able to buy everything and still scale as you need it. We need smaller, more mobile vehicles,” Breaking Defense reported.

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

Intensive testing is expected to take place 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 goods, 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