Aircraft
U.S. Army, Sikorsky Demonstrate Autonomous Black Hawk
The Black Hawk serves as a second testbed for Sikorsky’s Matrix research program to develop and field systems for autonomous vertical takeoff and landing.
Testers operated the Manned/Unmanned Resupply Aerial Lifter (Mural) using a man-portable ground control station. (Photo: Sikorsky Aircraft)
Testers operated the Manned/Unmanned Resupply Aerial Lifter (Mural) using a man-portable ground control station. (Photo: Sikorsky Aircraft)

Sikorsky Aircraft completed the first flight of an optionally piloted Black Hawk demonstrator last month in a joint effort with the U.S. Army, the company said on April 21. The Black Hawk serves as a second testbed (joining an S-76) for Sikorsky’s Matrix research program to develop and field systems for autonomous vertical takeoff and landing aircraft.

Sikorsky conducted the first flight of the Manned/Unmanned Resupply Aerial Lifter (Mural)—an Army UH-60MU Black Hawk—on March 11 at its development flight center in West Palm Beach, Fla. It flew “a full concept demonstration” of a cargo resupply mission three days later.