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Watch: DARPA and the Marine Corps are testing plywood drones for cheap resupply missions

March 26, 2019
Alex Hollings 2 Comments Military Aviation, Video

DARPA and the U.S. Marine Corps Warfighting Laboratory have begun experimenting with an extremely low-cost resupply drone that can be made out of plywood or aluminum. The Logistics Gliders Inc designed drones are 10.4 feet long with a 23-foot wingspan and a payload capacity of up to 700 pounds.

Flying at speeds of up to 135 knots (about 155 miles per hour), these drones can fly and land autonomously using GPS guidance after being deployed from the rear of cargo aircraft. Instead of relying on a landing strip, the drone dips to an altitude of about 200 feet and deploys a parachute for a soft landing.

The idea is to deploy these low-tech and low-cost drones to quickly resupply troops in the field. Because of their simplicity, these drones are expected to only cost the taxpayer between $4,500 and $11,000 each — making them nearly expendable from a financial standpoint.

Watch the LG-1K fly below.

About the Author

Alex Hollings Alex Hollings writes on a breadth of subjects ranging from fitness to foreign policy, all presented through the lens of his experiences as a U.S. Marine, athlete and scholar. A football player, rugby player and fighter, Hollings has spent the better part of his adult life competing in some of the most physically demanding sports on the planet. Hollings possesses a master's degree in communications from Southern New Hampshire University, as well as a bachelor's degree in Corporate and Organizational Communications from Framingham State University.

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