Autonomous Aerial Cargo System The Sea Land Air Military Research initiative (SLAMR) Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) FY21 Joint Distribution Deployment Enterprise Phase I White Paper

Abstract

Expanded use of unmanned aerial systems (UAS) represents a paradigm shift for the battlefield, enabling frequent, flexible, long range, tactical resupply in support of expeditionary maneuver teams and Ship-to-Shore lines of support and logistics as well as flexible options for airborne Intelligence, Surveillance & Reconnaissance (ISR). Concepts such as EABO will require new and less expensive means of aerial resupply, to include into contested environments. The NPS will lead this RDT&E project to deliver a militarized variant of an autonomous VTOL cargo aircraft developed primarily to serve the commercial logistics/parcel market. This variant will be capable of operating from maritime platforms.