Search underway to find the US Marine Corps' autonomous new battle buddy
The search is on to find the United States Marine Corps' new battlefield best friend - an uncrewed aerial vehicle.
One design the USMC is considering is the Kargo UAV, created by Kaman Air Vehicles, which could soon be used on the battlefield to resupply marines on the ground.
The Kargo is in the running to become America's new medium-lift aerial drone, also known as the Marines' Medium Autonomous Resupply Vehicle or Marv-el.
Capable of flying over 500 nautical miles and carrying up to 800lb of equipment, the vehicle could be used to reach marines in the most extreme conditions.
According to Kaman, the 1,500lb UAV is "unconstrained by no-go terrain" and can sense obstacles to avoid them.
Furthermore, the Kargo UAV is powered by a Rolls-Royce RR300 turbine engine, and has four teetering two-bladed rotors.
However, the Kargo still has to outshine another drone that's in the running - the SeaOnyx - which is being designed by Leidos to perform logistical distribution missions at the tactical edge of the battlefield.
The goal of the SeaOnyx design is to transport logistical payloads up 600lb to combat zones with a radius of up to 100 nautical miles.
It remains to be seen which design will be chosen.
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