U.S. Army Receives First Optionally Piloted Black Hawk Helicopter for Testing

The U.S. Army has received its first H-60Mx Black Hawk helicopter configured for both autonomous and piloted flight, with the aircraft set to enter a formal testing phase.

The helicopter incorporates technology developed under the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency’s Aircrew Labor In-Cockpit Automation System (ALIAS) program, which began more than a decade ago to create a removable automation kit for existing aircraft.

A military aircraft manufacturer partnered with the research agency to develop the autonomy system, which has undergone demonstrations on rotary- and fixed-wing platforms and is now ready for military evaluation.

The upgraded Black Hawk features an optionally piloted vehicle kit that allows operations with onboard crew, remotely from the ground, or fully autonomously. The system includes an autonomy mission manager and a software development kit for integrating third-party software and sensors.

The aircraft replaces traditional mechanical controls with a fly-by-wire system designed to improve stability and handling, particularly in low-visibility conditions, while automating key flight functions.

Army test pilots and engineers will assess the helicopter’s ability to perform autonomous missions, operate under remote supervision, and function in complex scenarios.

The aircraft will serve as a test platform for the Strategic Autonomy Flight Enabler (SAFE) program, which aims to develop a scalable autonomy kit for wider deployment across the Army’s Black Hawk fleet and future aircraft.

Autonomy testing is also being supported in Texas through collaboration with Texas A&M University George H.W. Bush Combat Development Complex, where modified UH-60L helicopters are being used to study applications such as wildland firefighting and other state missions.