Delivery drones are delivering supplies to marines in combat, allowing emergency food and ammunition deliveries in a short amount of time. The autonomous drones can carry 60 pounds of cargo and fly up to six miles away. The delivery drones are a part of the Tactical Resupply Unmanned Aircraft System’s (TRUAS) $225,000 competition.
Specs released for a new Marine Corps mega-drone; 700 nautical-mile radius, fly at 30,000 feet, 9,500 pound payload
The Marine Corps just released specification of what in their view would be the ideal mega-drone. The unmanned aircraft would be able to perform Verticle-Take-Off-and-Landing (VTOL), fly up to a 700-mile radius with a full payload of 9,500 pounds at a cruising speed from 200kt to 300kt (370 km/h to 556 km/h), escort the MV-22 Osprey and other aircraft, network with other manned platforms and provide offensive air support. Like we said… a mega-drone.