DefenseU.S. Army has already flying with the remotely operated Black Hawk helicopter
A U.S. National Guard sergeant became the first military member to plan and execute autonomous missions with a Black Hawk helicopter equipped with MATRIX technology during the Northern Strike 25-2 exercise in August in Michigan.
The demonstration took place in partnership with the Joint Personnel Recovery Agency and DARPA, aiming to assess the potential of the autonomous Black Hawk to extend mission reach and reduce operational risks, Sikorsky reported last week.
The operator training lasted less than an hour, allowing the soldier to use a tablet to plan, command, and execute missions with the Black Hawk Optionally Piloted Vehicle (OPV).
During the exercise, the helicopter performed internal cargo deliveries, external transport via hook, precision parachute drops, and a medical evacuation mission.
One of the operations involved Class 1 refueling from a Coast Guard boat on Lake Huron, with the Black Hawk OPV flying autonomously for about 115 km.
S-70UAS U-Hawk helicopter
The system also demonstrated the first autonomous external load connection in flight, in addition to transporting HIMARS launch tubes and simulating a personnel recovery mission with patient transfer.
“With lives at stake, Sikorsky’s MATRIX flight autonomy system can transform how military operators conduct their missions,” said Rich Benton, vice president and general manager of Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin company.
The demonstration occurs amid the launch of the S-70UAS U-Hawk, an autonomous unmanned aerial system (UAS) derived from the UH-60L Black Hawk helicopter.
The autonomous version features a 25% increase in cargo space compared to a standard Black Hawk, achieved by removing the crew cabin and installing clam-shell doors. The aircraft is designed for cargo missions, capable of carrying up to 4,080 kg with an external hook and transporting 3,175 kg internally.
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