Sikorsky, DARPA detail successful autonomous Black Hawk flights

Aircraft manufacturer Sikorsky and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) successfully demonstrated to the U.S. Army how uninhabited Black Hawk helicopters flying autonomously performed varied missions.

The flights were executed on Oct. 12, 14, and 18 in conjunction with the Army’s Project Convergence 2022 (PC22) experiment to show how existing and future piloted utility helicopters could one day fly complex missions in reduced crew or autonomous mode.

Sikorsky partnered with DARPA to develop autonomy technology to improve the flight safety and efficiency of rotary and fixed-wing aircraft. Sikorsky’s autonomy system, known as MATRIX technology, forms the core of DARPA’s ALIAS (Aircrew Labor In-cockpit Automation System) project.

“We believe MATRIX technology is ready now for transition to the Army as they look to modernize the enduring helicopter fleet and acquire Future Vertical Lift aircraft,” Sikorsky Innovations Director Igor Cherepinsky said. “In addition to increasing flight safety and reliability, MATRIX technology enables survivability in high tempo, high threat 21st Century Security environments where Black Hawk helicopters operate today, and DEFIANT X and RAIDER X helicopters could operate in the future.”

Cherepinsky said uncrewed or reduced crewed helicopters could safely perform critical and lifesaving missions day or night in complex terrain and contested battlespace.

Sikorsky and DARPA will continue to work toward the transition of the technology for military operations that include aircrew support and operations, logistics and medical resupply, casualty evacuation, as well as commercial applications.