Charles Alcock is managing editor of the AIN Media Group, having rejoined the company in 2019. He has been an aviation journalist since 1986, and previously worked for AIN from 1990 to 2017, most recently as editor-in-chief. His main focus is on covering new aviation technology and business models, as well as international news.
Having been raised in the London area, Alcock studied at the University of Manchester in the UK and earned an honors degree in Politics and Modern History. He speaks English and French, and some German.

Managing Editor

Charles Alcock

Piasecki Aircraft Corporation is adding Kaman Air Vehicles’ Kargo UAV to its helicopters and drones portfolio. On April 29, the U.S. manufacturer announced it is acquiring the program from Kaman without disclosing the financial terms, and said it will now accelerate development of the aircraft and have a production-ready vehicle built by late 2026.
Kaman has been working on the <a href="https://www.ainonline.com/news-article/2023-03-07/kaman-phi-partner-kargo-uav-commercial-operations">Kargo UAV</a> since early 2022 for both commercial and military applications. As work has progressed, the company has increased its key performance targets to include a payload of up to 1,400 pounds, range of 1,100 nm and a speed of up to 100 knots.
Under the terms of the deal, Kaman is selling all the intellectual property and two full-scale prototypes, including one which was used for the start of flight testing in December 2023, plus another example that is under construction. Some key personnel from the program will be moving to Piasecki at its Heliplex headquarters in Coatesville, Pennsylvania, to ensure continuity in engineering expertise and program knowledge.
The Kargo UAV has been demonstrated to the U.S. Army in autonomous cargo lift roles in flight tests using Near Earth Autonomy’s Peregrine flight operations system. The program has also had support under a $12 million contract from the U.S. Marines for its Autonomous Resupply Vehicle­–Expeditionary Logistics Program.
According to Piasecki, there is already projected demand for more than 300 examples of the Kargo UAV. It envisages missions that could include the following: maritime support, medical transportation, support for covert operations, oil and gas industry resupply, search and rescule, law enforcement, fire fighting and freight deliveries.
"Our immediate focus is on accelerating the transition of the Kargo UAV from prototype to production," said Piasecki Aircraft Corporation's CEO John Piasecki. "We are integrating the program into Piasecki’s manufacturing, engineering, and flight test operations at our Heliplex facility. Near-term priorities include completing additional flight testing, advancing toward airworthiness certification, and maturing the vehicle for both defense and commercial applications. We’re also expanding customer engagement to align Kargo UAV’s capabilities with evolving operational needs in both military and commercial logistics markets.”
In work that has also received Pentagon backing, Piasecki is working to bring a hydrogen-powered helicopter into service by the end of the decade. It is preparing to fly a full-scale prototype of the <a href="https://www.ainonline.com/news-article/2024-02-11/military-backing-piasecki-steps-development-hydrogen-powered-pa-890">PA-890 slow-rotor wing compound helicopter</a> in 2028, and this model is expected to be able to carry a pilot and seven passengers on flights of over 200 nm.
Piasecki has extensive experience from working on high-performance rotorcraft and uncrewed air systems programs. In November 2023, the U.S. Air Force awarded the company a $37 million contract to develop the Aerial Reconfigurable Embedded System tilt-duct optionally-piloted VTOL aircraft.
“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,” Piasecki commented. “Kaman’s Kargo UAV program 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.”
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News and issues relating to civil and military unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS) of all kinds and sizes, including those used for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR), combat (unmanned combat air vehicles, or UCAVs), law enforcement, research and other applications. Of particular focus is the FAA's planned integration of UAS into the U.S. national airspace system.

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