Most Marines would not want close air support from an unmanned attack helicopter, nor to be flown to a hospital in an unmanned medical evacuation helicopter.
However, after nearly 500 sorties of night time vertical resupply missions to remote bases in Afghanistan, the "optionally piloted" KMAX has proven that an unmanned cargo hauler is a win-win.
In fact, the two evaluation aircraft in support of the Marines have been extended for six months, and may be extended another year.
Ironically, the aircraft still requires a pilot to start it up and shut it down. Flying sling loads cross country through the mountains at night? No pilot. Time to get fuel? Go get a pilot to shut it down. Talk about not logging any flight time...
See it in action in the Lockheed Martin video below.
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