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Investing.com -- Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin company (NYSE:LMT), has converted a UH-60L Black Hawk helicopter into an autonomous unmanned aircraft system called the S-70UAS U-Hawk, completing the transformation in just 10 months.
The U-Hawk, unveiled Monday at the Association of the United States Army exposition, features 25% more cargo space than a typical Black Hawk helicopter. Sikorsky replaced the cockpit section with actuated clamshell doors and ramp, and installed a third-generation, low-cost, fly-by-wire system integrated with MATRIX autonomy technology.
"Sikorsky is innovating a 21st century solution by converting UH-60L Black Hawks into a fully autonomous utility platform," said Rich Benton, Sikorsky vice president and general manager. "We developed this prototype from concept to reality in under a year, and the modifications made to transform this crewed Black Hawk into a multi-mission payload UAS can be replicated at scale quickly and affordably."
The redesign and structural modification was led by Sikorsky Innovations, the company’s rapid prototyping group. First flight is expected in 2026.
The expanded cabin space allows the U-Hawk to accept longer cargo such as missiles, accommodate drive-on/off capabilities for uncrewed ground vehicles, roll-on/off supplies, launch swarms of reconnaissance or strike drones, and carry internal fuel tanks for increased range or extended time on station.
The U-Hawk can transport up to four Joint Modular Intermodal Containers compared to two in the standard Black Hawk. It can carry a HIMARS pod of six rockets or two Naval Strike Missiles, deploy launched effects with sensors or munitions, and self-deploy over 1,600 nautical miles or loiter for up to 14 hours without refueling.
Like the UH-60L, the U-Hawk retains the ability to load cargo from the side door and externally lift 9,000 pounds (4,080 kg) using its cargo hook.
The aircraft is operated via tablet, which gives an operator full command from start-up to shut down. The MATRIX autonomy system automatically generates flight plans using cameras, sensors and algorithms to navigate safely.
"The U-Hawk offers a cost effective utility UAS by leveraging commonality with the existing UH-60 fleet, and its uncrewed nature reduces both operating and maintenance costs," said Igor Cherepinsky, Sikorsky Innovations director.
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