The world’s most famous war helicopter Black Hawk can now fly without a pilot. American company Sikorsky introduced its new helicopter S-70UAS U-Hawk at the ongoing AUSA 2025 conference in Washington. It is a fully automated version of the UH-60L Black Hawk, which can perform logistics, surveillance and combat operations without any humans. In simple words, it is a big drone helicopter, which can perform long missions while saving the lives of soldiers.
Introduction of U-Hawk: How the Black Hawk became an autonomous helicopter?
The Black Hawk helicopter is an old friend of the US Army. Since the 1970s it has been carrying troops, delivering supplies and helping in wars. But now the danger in the battlefield has increased. So Sikorsky changed it. They removed the cockpit (pilot’s cabin), seats and all crew stations.
Also read: How big an army does Taliban have that they attacked so many Pakistani posts simultaneously?
Instead, clamshell doors were installed at the front and a cargo ramp at the rear. Due to this the internal space increased by 25%. This change was completed in 10 months. Sikorsky Vice President Rich Benton says that we took the DNA of the Black Hawk and gave it new power. This is not just a demo, but a blueprint for affordable automated technology.
This helicopter runs on an automatic system named MATRIX. The system creates its own path, avoids obstacles and takes decisions in real-time. An operator can control everything from engine start to mission end from a tablet. No pilot necessary.
Also read: Cannons, firing and air strikes… the whole story of the Pakistan-Taliban war that lasted overnight
Key Features of U-Hawk: What’s New?
- No cockpit: Completely uncrewed (without crew), which protects pilots from danger.
- Modular Design: The old Black Hawk can be easily upgraded. Igor Cherepinsky, director of Sikorsky Innovations, says that our focus is on retrofit. Existing helicopters can be made new without starting from zero.
- Fly-by-wire system: Third generation cheap control system, which runs the flight from computer.
- Cargo Loading: The front doors allow direct drive-on-drive-off. No need to lift it by hand.
- Mission Flexibility: Logistics, ISR (intelligence surveillance), drone launch and ground vehicle deployment. This helicopter will work in high-risk areas, such as delivering goods to enemy areas.
Full Specifications: Understand in Numbers
- Base Model: UH-60L Black Hawk, fully uncrewed version.
- engine: Two GE T700-GE-701D turboshafts, 1940 shaft horsepower each.
- Maximum Speed: Around 340 km/h, same as standard Black Hawk.
- Range: Approximately 2,960 km. With internal fuel tanks.
- Loiter Time: More than 14 hours. Without refueling.
- Internal Payload: Approximately 3,175 kg, four JMIC containers or HIMARS rocket pods.
- External Lift: Approximately 4,082 kg, for slung load.
- First flight: Prototype delivered in 300 days in 2026.
These specs show that the U-Hawk can carry longer and heavier loads than the older Black Hawk. For example, it can use the HDT Hunter Wolf 6×6 UGV (Uncrewed Ground Vehicle) in air-to-ground teaming.
Also read: What weapons were used in the war between Taliban and Pakistan?
U-Hawk’s missions: what can it do?
- Rapid Resupply: Rapid delivery of supplies to soldiers, such as weapons or medicines.
- ISR Drone Deploy: Launching and monitoring sensor drones.
- Logistics in Denied Area: Flying without a pilot in enemy airspace.
- Swarm Operations: Work as a team with multiple drones.
- Combat Support: Attack by carrying rocket pods or missiles.
The Logistics and Special Operations Command of the US Army is interested in this. This will give new life to the old UH-60 fleet.
Future: What will happen next?
Sikorsky plans to have its first flight in 2026. Then it will be upgraded to more than 2,000 Black Hawks of the US Army. Autonomous logistics is important in the Pentagon’s strategy, especially in wars with enemies like China or Russia. The U-Hawk will prove that old machines can be immortalized with new technology.
—- End —-
