Sikorsky and DARPA have delivered the experimental UH-60Mx optionally piloted Black Hawk to the US Army, marking a significant milestone in autonomous aviation. Developed under the ALIAS program, the helicopter integrates the Matrix autonomy suite, enabling both crewed and uncrewed missions. The system manages full flight operations, including takeoff, navigation, and landing, while allowing remote supervision. Advanced features such as automated landing-zone detection, obstacle avoidance, and terrain awareness improve mission safety in contested environments. Its open architecture reduces maintenance costs and allows easy upgrades. The UH-60Mx is the first in its class to combine fly-by-wire controls with optional piloting. It will undergo operational testing to validate autonomous capabilities and will support the Army’s Strategic Autonomy Flight Enabler program aimed at future aviation systems.
