The H-60Mx Black Hawk unmanned helicopter has been delivered to the Army.
Unmanned flight of the H-60Mx prototype, 2022.
The Pentagon continues to deploy unmanned technologies in Aviation, including manned capabilities. As part of this process, several years ago, he began developing an optionally manned version of the UH-60 multirole helicopter. Recently, a prototype with such capabilities completed some of the required testing, and is now being handed over to the Army for further testing and operational use.
At a new stage
On March 19, 2026, the Pentagon announced that the first optionally piloted H-60Mx helicopter had been delivered to the US Army. It was manufactured under a program run by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). Until recently, the aircraft was undergoing testing with the development companies and the agency. Now, following these tests, it is being handed over to the Army.
A modernized Black Hawk with a special set of onboard equipment will be assigned to one of the Army Aviation units. The squadron receiving the helicopter has not yet been announced. The squadron will be tasked with mastering the new aircraft, including its specialized equipment, and beginning pilot operations.
For some time, the Army will use the experimental H-60Mx helicopter alongside other UH-60s in similar roles. The optionally piloted aircraft will carry personnel and cargo, provide landing support, and so on. It will likely be used in some combat-simulated exercises. In such a case, the helicopter could even be armed with some weapons.
During the tests, the helicopter will reportedly operate in various modes. Some flights will be conducted with a pilot present in the cockpit, who will have full control of the aircraft or rely on automated assistance. Autonomous flights and/or flights under the control of a ground control operator are also planned.
Helicopter operator with control system
Over several months of such activities, the prototype H-60Mx will help accumulate valuable experience in the operation and deployment of the equipment in combat conditions. This experience will be used to draw the necessary conclusions that will determine the future of this promising project.
Understandably, the Pentagon highly values the new project. It is expected that the optionally piloted helicopter will be a fully-fledged complement or even a replacement for the basic, pilot-only versions of the aircraft. Furthermore, previous testing suggests that the new phase will be trouble-free.
Prospective program
The experimental H-60Mx helicopter, with its specialized onboard equipment, is one of the key results of the ALIAS (Aircrew Labor In-Cockpit Automation System) program. Work in this area began in the second half of the 2010s at the initiative of DARPA. Several major American companies soon joined the program with their own projects.
The goal of ALIAS was to create a suite of onboard equipment capable of transforming an existing aircraft or helicopter into an optionally manned or fully unmanned aerial vehicle. In the distant future, such equipment or its more advanced versions were planned to be implemented in various branches of aviation to improve operational and operational capabilities.
Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin company, was one of the ALIAS program participants. It proposed and implemented an automated control system design called Matrix. The project went from a basic concept to a fully functional prototype in minimal time.
In the early 1920s, an experimental helicopter, later designated the H-60Mx, was prepared for testing. Initially, it was a production UH-60A Black Hawk in a multirole configuration. Some systems were replaced and new instruments from the Matrix suite were installed.
The first tests soon took place, with the machine operating in various modes. Flights were conducted solely under the pilot's control or with some assistance from the Matrix system. The automation performed some routine tasks for the pilot, effectively acting as a co-pilot. Fully automated flights were also practiced, with the pilot remaining in the cockpit and ready to intervene at any time.
In early February 2022, the experimental H-60Mx completed its maiden flight using only automated controls. There were no people on board. Similar flights were subsequently conducted repeatedly. The helicopter performed various tasks, from route navigation to cargo handling, and demonstrated the capabilities of autonomous or remote control.
The H-60Mx and the Matrix system have now demonstrated the required capabilities and confirmed their key performance characteristics. As a result, the primary testing, conducted under DARPA supervision, has been completed. The experimental helicopter is now being handed over to the Army for operational testing.
Onboard systems
ALIAS member organizations have disclosed some technical details of the program. However, some information, including the most interesting, remains closed to the public. However, it's possible that the Army will begin sharing more details in the future, given the project's current level of development.
The H-60Mx was based on a production Black Hawk of a common modification. During the conversion, the aircraft retained its airframe, powerplant, and a number of common components. However, the helicopter received a fly-by-wire control system for the engine, rotor system, and tail rotor. This was directly related to the installation of new instruments.
The Matrix system is an onboard computer with specialized software. It is connected to navigation, communication, and other instruments. It features a "glass cockpit" for displaying all necessary navigation, flight, and other information. Furthermore, the Matrix controls all actuators through the helicopter's new fly-by-wire system.
Depending on the selected operating mode, the Matrix system can perform various tasks. For example, it can assist the pilot with routine procedures related to piloting, route planning, and so on. It can also operate as an autopilot, executing a preset program. In this case, the Matrix effectively replaces the co-pilot.
The H-60Mx can fly without a pilot on board. A simpler mode of this type involves operation under the control of an operator from a ground station. In this mode, automation is responsible for key aspects of piloting, reactions to certain factors, and so on. The most complex mode is fully automatic, without direct human intervention.
For now, this only covers navigation and piloting in various flight modes. It's possible that the Matrix and H-60Mx will acquire new capabilities in the future. Specifically, the helicopter will be able to conduct reconnaissance missions or even deploy weapons—in manned, remotely controlled, or automated modes.
Notable achievements
Thus, DARPA and its contractors completed the ALIAS program, tested it, and achieved the desired results. During the first series of tests, the H-60Mx helicopter, equipped with the new equipment, demonstrated all the required capabilities, and it has now been delivered to the Army.
During the pilot operation, Army Aviation will conduct further testing of the equipment, taking into account the specifics of service in the ground forces. Based on these tests, final conclusions will be drawn that will determine the future of the H-60Mx project, as well as the ALIAS program as a whole. If successful and without serious complaints, the project could be expanded to include more than just Black Hawk helicopters.
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