Autonomous Black Hawk Flies Missions Without Pilots

Sikorsky and DARPA have successfully demonstrated for the first time how an uninhabited Black Hawk helicopter flying autonomously can safely and reliably perform internal and external cargo resupply missions, and a rescue operation.

Performed October 12, 14 and 18 as part of the US Army’s Project Convergence 2022 (PC22) experiment, the flights show how existing and future piloted utility helicopters could one day fly complex missions in reduced crew or autonomous mode. This would give Army commanders and aviators greater flexibility in how and when aircraft and pilots are used, especially in limited visibility or contested environments. The PC22 demonstrations were the second set of uninhabited Black Hawk flights this year.