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The US military has taken a major step towards autonomous aircraft after acquiring a Black Hawk helicopter that can fly without a pilot on board, the Department of Defense has announced.
The next-generation UH-60MX Black Hawk, developed by Lockheed Martin’s Sikorsky unit, will now enter a critical testing phase as the Army pushes to integrate autonomy into its future fleet.
The aircraft is equipped with advanced flight systems that allow it to operate as a traditional helicopter, an optional helicopter or a fully autonomous platform remotely controlled from the ground.
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A UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter equipped with advanced autonomous systems flies during the test. (Lockheed Martin)
Officials said the delivery marks a milestone in the Army’s broader effort to modernize aircraft and reduce the risk to soldiers in dangerous environments.
“This capability will improve the operational efficiency and survivability of today’s warfighters and form the foundation for tomorrow’s network systems,” said Rich Benton, vice president and general manager at Sikorsky, in a statement.
The technology on board the plane stems from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency’s Aircrew Labor In-Cockpit Automation System, or ALIAS, a program introduced more than a decade ago to streamline flight operations and improve safety, the Army Department said.
Sikorsky’s MATRIX autonomy suite, integrated into the aircraft, acts as a co-pilot capable of handling complex flight operations such as take-off, navigation and landing.
The system allows the helicopter to detect habitats, avoid obstacles and operate in low-visibility areas while reducing pilot workload.
Army officials said the aircraft also has a fly-by-wire system that replaces traditional mechanical controls with electronic ones, making it easier to maneuver in challenging situations.
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A US Army operator uses a tablet to monitor and control Black Hawk helicopters equipped with autonomous systems during a test flight. (Lockheed Martin)
The UH-60MX will serve as a testbed for the Army Combat Capabilities Development Command as engineers and pilots test how the aircraft performs in real-world missions, including remote and autonomous missions.
The aircraft is part of a broader initiative under the Army’s Strategic Autonomy Flight Enabler program, which aims to develop an autonomous kit that can be deployed on all Black Hawks.
Defense officials said the long-term goal is to enable the helicopters to perform missions autonomously or with little human supervision, which could change the way the Army conducts combat and support operations.
A UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter equipped with advanced autonomous systems flies during the test. (Department of War)
The military has already tested similar systems on previous models of the Hawk during hundreds of flight hours, officials said, indicating the technology is close to operational readiness.
In 2022, the autonomous Black Hawk completed a 30-minute flight without a crew, demonstrating the technology’s viability.
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Officials say the latest flight represents a transition from experimental testing to operational testing, with a focus on real-world missions and future deployments across the fleet.
