Piasecki Aircraft Corporation has acquired Kaman Air Vehicles’ KARGO UAV programme, a medium-lift autonomous unmanned aerial vehicle that is optimised for cargo capabilities for military missions.
KARGO UAV is compact, easily transported and deployed, and ideal for both combat zones and remote commercial operations. The system was designed for the Department of Defence’s particular needs and has completed several military contracts.
“This acquisition is a perfect fit for Piasecki’s long-term vision for a family of autonomous VTOL UAS solutions to address a diverse range of customer mission requirements in both government and commercial markets,” said John Piasecki, CEO of Piasecki Aircraft Corporation. “Kaman’s KARGO UAV programme has already achieved significant milestones. With our VTOL expertise, world-class Heliplex, and deep industry partnerships, we are positioned to accelerate KARGO’s transition from prototype to production. Piasecki has adopted a ‘family of systems’ approach to the cargo UAS market that offers greater scalability and adaptability than single-platform strategies.”
Piasecki plans to relocate all research and development operational activities to its 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 commercialisation in vertical flight solutions makes them the ideal company to take KARGO UAV to market.”
Photo: Piasecki
