Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin company, has been awarded $6 million by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) to install its advanced ALIAS/MATRIX flight autonomy system onto the U.S. Army’s experimental UH-60M Black Hawk helicopter.
The upgraded aircraft, designated as MX, will allow the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command (DEVCOM) to test and evaluate autonomy capabilities ranging from single-pilot operations to fully uninhabited flight.
“Autonomy-enabled aircraft will reduce pilot workload, dramatically improve flight safety, and give battle commanders the flexibility to perform complex missions in contested and congested battlespace, day or night in all weather conditions,” said Rich Benton, Sikorsky vice president and general manager. Benton emphasized that this upgrade will help ensure Black Hawk helicopters remain viable into the 2070s, providing long-term benefits for U.S. Army Aviation.
The MATRIX autonomy system is the centerpiece of DARPA’s Aircrew Labor In-cockpit Automation System (ALIAS) program, designed to improve pilot safety and mission success in high-risk environments. In 2020, Sikorsky added fly-by-wire flight controls to the MX aircraft, creating a near-replica of the UH-60A Optionally Piloted Black Hawk, which serves as the company’s flying lab for testing autonomous flight systems.
The ALIAS program aims to enable helicopters to perform complex missions autonomously, allowing for operations in highly congested and contested environments. Once integrated into the MX helicopter in 2025, the system will provide DEVCOM with a platform to assess various sensor suites and autonomy applications, enhancing situational awareness and safety.
In a demonstration in July 2024, Sikorsky and DARPA showcased the Optionally Piloted Black Hawk to U.S. military and Department of Defense officials. The autonomous capabilities of the helicopter were displayed through simple, high-level mission commands issued from a tablet, whether the operator was on the ground or in the cabin. These demonstrations followed successful tests at Project Convergence 2022, where the helicopter performed cargo resupply missions autonomously.