‘Optionally Piloted’ Black Hawk Takes a Step Forward

The $6 million in government funding will go toward installing a flight autonomy system in an experimental U.S. Army UH-60M helicopter.

Wednesday, October 16, 2024 at 10:37 AM ET

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OPV Blackhawk N600PV at Yuma Proving Grounds, Arizona, on October 12, 2022 during Gateway Technology PC22. The uninhabited aircraft made a one-hour flight, carrying human blood in the cabin. [Courtesy: Sikorsky]

Key Takeaways:

Sikorsky received a $6 million award from DARPA to advance its flight autonomy program, specifically for integrating its ALIAS/MATRIX system into a U.S. Army experimental UH-60M Black Hawk.
The program's goal is to enable the U.S. Army to test and evaluate a range of autonomy capabilities, from single-pilot operation to fully uninhabited flight.
Autonomy-enabled aircraft aim to reduce pilot workload, significantly improve flight safety, and provide battle commanders with greater flexibility for complex missions in various conditions, ensuring Black Hawks remain relevant for decades.

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Sikorsky, a subsidiary of Lockheed Martin, announced Monday it has received a $6 million award from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) to advance its flight autonomy program.

The government funding will go toward installing Sikorsky’s ALIAS/MATRIX (Aircrew Labor In-cockpit Automation System) in a U.S. Army experimental fly-by-wire Sikorsky UH-60M Black Hawk helicopter designated MX.