The latest development in an ambitious effort of the Marine Corps is to use unmanned aircraft to resupply troops in the field. This demonstration tests what the military calls a “pilot in a box.” It will allow Marines to convert manned helicopters, including Vietnam-era Hueys, into remote-controlled aircraft that can deliver supplies to dangerous places without putting pilots in harms way. The technology will allow the Marines to reduce the number of troops in logistical support, freeing up more for combat, said Loren Thompson, a military analyst at the Lexington Institute.
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2017/02/22/drones-supplying-united-states-troops/98155244/