A Pittsburgh-based firm is looking to help the US Marine Corps tackle logistics challenges in high-risk environments with a self-flying cargo aircraft concept aimed at safer resupply missions.
Under the Medium Aerial Resupply Vehicle – Expeditionary Logistics (MARV-EL) Increment 2 program, Near Earth Autonomy will advance a helicopter-type platform that can operate independently at the tactical edge.
At the center of the effort is the company’s Captain autonomy system, which will handle pilotless takeoff and landing, navigation, and obstacle avoidance.
Captain is also capable of operating without GPS, while relaying in-flight mission data to connected command networks.
Near Earth is working with Moog to link the autonomy system to the helicopter’s physical controls via its flight control architecture, while XP Services will handle conversion work spanning modifications, maintenance, and experimentation.
The consortium has 36 months to deliver a prototype capable of carrying 1,300 pounds (590 kilograms) of payload across a combat radius of 100 nautical miles (185 kilometers/115 miles).
Near Earth has indicated it is aiming to exceed these baseline requirements, including expanded storage and improved transportability.
The Concept’s Backbone
For the platform’s foundation, Near Earth has selected Bell Textron’s Bell 505 light helicopter.
The aircraft features a fully flat cabin floor to support flexible cargo layouts, along with one of the largest rear-cabin volumes in its class.
Bell Textron will also support engineering work focused on integrating the autonomy system and optimizing cargo handling for the platform.
The companies will progress from early demonstrations toward full mission capability over the course of the program.
“This platform will be a step forward in transforming the US Marine Corps’ autonomous operations and how our warfighters navigate on the battlefield,” said Jason Hurst, Bell Senior Vice President of Engineering.
“We’re leveraging our decades of experience with the US Armed Forces and innovative product development applying it to the versatile Bell 505 for this program.”
Competing Designs
Near Earth’s self-flying cargo helicopter concept will compete against a similar setup built by Sikorsky and Robinson Helicopter Company.
Based on the R66 TURBINETRUCK commercial cargo chopper, the Sikorsky-Robinson concept is intended for tablet-based control, replacing conventional cockpit and cabin space with a cargo-focused fuselage and dedicated storage floor.
It will also reportedly incorporate technologies made for the S-70UAS U-Hawk platform.
The MARV-EL program aims to bridge the gap between small tactical drones and larger cargo aircraft, offering a “middle-of-the-class” solution for operations from contested forward positions, ship decks, or improvised landing zones.
