The U.S. Department of Defense, through DARPA (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency), has recently launched an ambitious project aimed at revolutionizing heavy air transport. This initiative, named "Cost Efficient Cargo," explores the design of an autonomous drone capable of carrying up to 31.75 tons of cargo, which is double the lifting capacity of the CH-53K King Stallion heavy-lift helicopter, currently in service with the U.S. Marine Corps. Unlike the King Stallion, this drone would not be designed for long-range missions but rather for moving heavy loads between ships and beaches or crossing rivers and other natural obstacles inland. Read more.
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| U.S. Marines with Marine Operational Test and Evaluation Squadron (VMX) 1 transport a Light Armored Vehicle 25 with a CH-53K King Stallion helicopter over Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, April 27, 2022 (Picture source: US-DoD) |