Army receives first optionally-piloted Black Hawk helicopter

The Army has taken delivery of a UH-60Mx Black Hawk helicopter upgraded with autonomous flight capabilities, the service announced Friday. The aircraft will undergo rigorous testing to validate its ability to be controlled by ground troops and operate in complex missions without a pilot onboard, following years of development by the Army, DARPA, and Sikorsky under the ALIAS program. The autonomous system uses a removable kit that serves as the "brains" of the aircraft during autonomous flight, along with a new fly-by-wire electronic control system that replaces traditional mechanical controls. DARPA awarded Sikorsky a $6 million contract in 2024 to integrate its MATRIX Autonomy Mission Manager system onto the helicopter and begin formal testing. The modernization is part of a broader Army Aviation effort to integrate autonomy and AI into its manned platforms while simultaneously developing new unmanned systems, including long-range Launched Effects drones expected for delivery in 2026.