A UH-60A Black Hawk Just Flew With No Pilot On Board

DARPA's Aircrew Labor In-Cockpit Automation System program conducted the unmanned autonomous demonstration flight.

Kimberly Johnson

Wednesday, February 09, 2022 at 03:52 PM ET

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The helicopter was retrofitted with Sikorsky Matrix autonomy technology. [Courtesy: Lockheed Martin]

Key Takeaways:

A UH-60A Black Hawk helicopter, retrofitted with DARPA's ALIAS autonomy technology (Sikorsky Matrix), successfully completed its first uncrewed 30-minute autonomous flight.
The flight demonstrated advanced capabilities, including real-time navigation of a simulated cityscape, complex maneuvers, and a precise autonomous landing.
The ALIAS program aims to reduce pilot workload, enhance operational flexibility (e.g., with reduced crews or in challenging conditions), and improve flight safety by preventing accidents, with DARPA planning to transition this technology to the Army.

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A UH-60A Black Hawk recently took a 30-minute flight over Fort Campbell, Kentucky, with no pilot or crew on board. In fact, no one was on board the helicopter at all, according to the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA).

The February 5 uncrewed flight of the Army Black Hawk helicopter retrofitted with automation technology—a first for the aircraft—was conducted by DARPA’s Aircrew Labor In-Cockpit Automation System (ALIAS) program.