Robinson, Skyryse to Turn R66 Helicopter Into a UAS

Manufacturer’s Unmanned division will work with system automator to equip the rotorcraft with uncrewed capabilities.

Jack Daleo

Thursday, June 25, 2026 at 09:00 AM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Travis Tingle

The cockpit of Skyryse’s flagship Skyryse One helicopter, a modified R66, replaces conventional controls with a single control stick, pair of touchscreen displays, and fly-by-wire system. [Credit: Skyryse]

Key Takeaways:

Robinson Helicopter Company is partnering with Skyryse to develop an uncrewed version of its R66 helicopter, leveraging Skyryse's SkyOS platform, for defense applications.
This collaboration will result in a Group 4 uncrewed aircraft system (UAS) designed for various military missions, including intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance (ISR), launching effects, and crewed-uncrewed teaming.
The initiative aligns with the U.S. military's significant push for autonomous aircraft and collaborative combat aircraft (CCA) models, with Robinson's domestic manufacturing capability providing a scalable and reliable supply chain.

See a mistake? Contact us.

Robinson Helicopter Company, which in March unveiled a future family of autonomous rotorcraft, will turn its venerable R66 into an uncrewed asset for defense applications.

Skyryse—which bills its SkyOS platform as a universal operating system for flight, capable of simplifying the controls of any aircraft—on Tuesday revealed it is working with the manufacturer’s Robinson Unmanned unit to develop a Group 4 uncrewed aircraft system (UAS) for a wide range of military missions. The partners said the SkyOS-equipped R66 will be capable of launching effects, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) missions, and even crewed-uncrewed teaming as a collaborative combat aircraft (CCA).