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2h ago

Sikorsky Debuts U‑Hawk, a Pilotless Black Hawk Conversion at AUSA

Built in 10 months with internal funds, the UH‑60L retrofit is pitched as a scalable, lower‑cost cargo UAS with flight testing planned for 2026.

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By removing the cockpit, seats and crew stations, the Sikorsky S-70UAS U-Hawk helicopter becomes the first fully autonomous Black Hawk helicopter. (Photo courtesy, Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin company.)
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Overview

  • The prototype removes the cockpit and adds actuated clamshell doors with a forward loading ramp, increasing internal volume by about 25%, according to the company.
  • A new fly‑by‑wire system integrated with Sikorsky’s MATRIX autonomy enables fully autonomous takeoff, flight and landing with tablet‑based operator oversight and adjustable autonomy.
  • Sikorsky cites payload and performance figures including roughly 7,000 pounds carried internally, 9,000 pounds on the external hook, self‑deployment over about 1,600 nautical miles and up to 14 hours endurance.
  • Planned missions include contested logistics and resupply, deploying launched effects from internal “quivers,” and transporting and disembarking uncrewed ground vehicles such as the HDT Hunter Wolf.
  • The conversion retains high commonality with UH‑60 fleets—Sikorsky says about 95%—but the U‑Hawk is not an Army program of record and this prototype was built from a UH‑60L bought back from the service.