Defense Daily reports that Sikorsky has moved its unmanned U-Hawk helicopter into a formal flight test program, marking another milestone in the development of autonomous military cargo aircraft. Described as an unmanned version of the Black Hawk helicopter “optimized for autonomous cargo-carrying operations,” the U-Hawk is designed to transport supplies and equipment without an onboard crew. The program has also attracted growing interest from the U.S. Marine Corps as the military explores autonomous aircraft for future resupply missions.
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Tag: helicopters
NASA Advances Plans to Deploy Three Helicopters on Mars
Space.com reports that NASA is accelerating development of three SkyFall helicopters designed to explore previously unseen regions of Mars. The aircraft are scheduled to travel aboard the nuclear-powered Space Reactor-1 Freedom spacecraft, with launch planned for 2028. According to the article, the mission will deliver the helicopters to Mars’ northern hemisphere during spring, a strategy intended to avoid seasonal dust storms. As Space.com explains, the spacecraft is “assigned the duty of dropping off the SkyFall entry capsule” carrying the three aerial vehicles.
Full Story (Space.com)
Video
Skyfall – Future Mission Concept for Next-gen Mars Helicopters and Exploration
(Aerovironment; YouTube)
NASA, AeroVironment Move SkyFall Mars Helicopters Toward 2028 Mission
Space News reports, “NASA and AeroVironment are moving ahead with the development of a set of helicopters to be sent to Mars at the end of 2028.”
Full Story (Space News – Subscription Publication)
Video
NASA’s SkyFall Mars Helicopters
NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory; YouTube
Skyfall Mission Targets 2028 to Bring Aerial Exploration to Mars
SPACE reports, “Skyfall is happening, and it will get to Mars in a totally new way. Last summer, NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory and the Virginia company AeroVironment unveiled their Skyfall mission concept, which would send a fleet of tiny helicopters to explore the skies of Mars.”
Full Story (SPACE)
Video
Skyfall – Future Mission Concept for Next-gen Mars Helicopters and Exploration
(Aerovironment; YouTube)
FAA Moves to Permanently Restrict Helicopters, Powered Lift Near Reagan National
Flying Magazine reports, “Close to one year after a fatal midair collision between an American Airlines jet and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter in Washington, D.C., the federal government is moving to permanently restrict certain aircraft types from operating around Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced Thursday that the FAA is formalizing restrictions for helicopters and powered lift aircraft in certain areas near Washington National unless they are conducting essential operations.”
Full Story (Flying Magazine)
Sikorsky Unveils U-Hawk, a Fully Autonomous Cargo Black Hawk
Aerotime reports, “Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin company, has unveiled the S-70UAS U-Hawk, a fully autonomous variant of the UH-60 Black Hawk designed to operate as a heavy-lift cargo drone. Developed in just ten months, the prototype replaces the Black Hawk’s cockpit with actuated clamshell doors and a loading ramp, transforming the crewed helicopter into a platform capable of operating without pilots on board. Equipped with MATRIX™ autonomy software and a new fly-by-wire system, the aircraft can take off, fly, and land entirely under autonomous control.”
Full Story (Aerotime)
US Army Apache Helicopters Show Counter-UAS Capabilities
Aerotime reports the US Army demonstrated the AH-64E Apache’s ability to detect, track, and defeat drone threats, underscoring its value as a mobile counter-UAS platform. “The tests, conducted with the South Carolina Army National Guard, involved the Army’s Program Manager Apache, Program Manager Tactical Aviation and Ground Munitions, and the team responsible for the helicopter’s 30mm proximity-fused ammunition.”
Full Story (Aerotime)
U.S. Air Force to Boost its MH-139 Fleet by Adding Over a Dozen Helos
Breaking Defense reports, “After moving to halve the fleet in fiscal year 2025, a new Pentagon review says the Air Force now plans to add over a dozen MH-139A Grey Wolf helicopters back into the aircraft’s program of record — averting a “critical” cost breach in the process. The planned procurement boost is likely a boon to prime contractor Boeing as well as Italian firm Leonardo, whose commercial AW139 serves as the Grey Wolf’s baseline.”
Full Story (Breaking Defense)
Helicopter MRO Market Projected to See Steady Growth
Aviation Week reports, “Global helicopter MRO demand is projected to surpass $81 billion through 2033. The 2024 edition of the Aviation Week Network’s Commercial Aviation Fleet & MRO Forecast projects how the world’s aircraft fleet and aftermarket will evolve over the next 10 years.”
Full Story (Aviation Week)
U.S. Coast Guard Re-ups Arriel Support Contract with Safran
Aviation International News reports, “Safran Helicopter Engines will continue to support its Arriel engines powering U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) MH-65 helicopters, following the renewal of its support-by-the-hour (SBH) contract. More than 240 Arriel engines are covered under the five-year renewal period. Engine support will be provided by Safran Helicopter Engines USA in Grand Prairie, Texas.”
Full Story (Aviation International News)