Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division’s (NAWCAD) UX-24 Unmanned Test Squadron, teamed up with Military Sealift Command and the crew of MSC’s fleet replenishment oiler USNS Joshua Humphreys (T-AO 188) to test a new concept in material transportation, while the ship was underway in the Atlantic Ocean, Jul. 15-16.
210716-N-OH262-0210 ATLANTIC OCEAN (July 16, 2021)–The unmanned vehicle component from the U.S. Navy’s Blue Water logistics Unmanned Aerial System, of the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division’s (NAWCAD) UX-24 Unmanned Test Squadron, takes off from the flight deck of Military Sealift Command’s fleet replenishment oiler USNS Joshua Humphreys (T-AO 188) while the ship was at sea in the Atlantic Ocean, July 16. This UAS flight proved the feasibility of using unmanned aircraft to transport small payloads of cargo from one ship to another while operating in a maritime environment. (U.S. Navy photo by Bill Mesta/released)
The Blue Water logistics Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) carried out three test flights by transporting an internal cargo consisting of simulated repair parts.
210716-N-OH262-0142 ATLANTIC OCEAN (July 16, 2021) — A view of the removable cargo hold from the unmanned vehicle component of the U.S. Navy’s Blue Water logistics Unmanned Aerial System (UAS). A team of contracted civilian UAS specialists from the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division’s (NAWCAD) UX-24 Unmanned Test Squadron, flew the prototype from the flight deck of Military Sealift Command’s fleet replenishment oiler USNS Joshua Humphreys (T-AO 188), while the ship was at sea in the Atlantic Ocean, July 16. The UAS performed multiple flights from the ship, proving the feasibility of using unmanned aircraft to transport small payloads of cargo from one ship to another while operating in a maritime environment. (U.S. Navy photo by Bill Mesta/released)
The third flight was representative of an operational scenario whereby the Blue Water took off from T-AO 188 and transported the payload to USS Bainbridge.
