Airbus has completed the initial trials of an unmanned UH-72 Lakota helicopter for the US Marine Corps in North Carolina.
The aircraft is part of the Aerial Logistics Connector Rapid Prototyping Program, a project seeking airborne solutions to transport tactical equipment autonomously across contested domains during expeditionary advanced base operations.
The event, held at Station New River and Base Camp Lejeune, evaluated the platform’s functions for moving specialized cargo in accordance with the initiative’s requirements.
Airbus will facilitate additional demonstrations similar to the North Carolina trial to gather more data on the aircraft’s capabilities and potential modifications to further improve its features.
Tests are scheduled through the rest of the year until 2025, with documentation informing future decisions to acquire a prototype.
“Integrating warfighter inputs early on in this phase of the contract helps ensure we’re hitting all the marks and gives us invaluable insights so we deliver the right capabilities to the US Marine Corps,” Airbus US Space and Defense CEO and Chairman Rob Geckle Jr. stated.
The US Naval Air Systems Command awarded the program’s Phase I contract to Airbus in May 2024 for the delivery of a UH-72 Logistics Connector concept based on the company’s proven Lakota aircraft.
The Airbus Lakota
The UH-72 Lakota is the tactical version of Airbus’ proprietary EC145 commercial helicopter.
It measures 43 feet (13 meters) long and has a rotor diameter of 36 feet (11 meters).
The aircraft is powered by twin Turbomeca Arriel engines with 738 horsepower each for a maximum speed of 145 knots (167 miles/289 kilometers per hour) and a range of 370 nautical miles (685 kilometers).
The Lakota can carry up to nine personnel or up to 3,953 pounds (1,793 kilograms) of payload and can reach an altitude of about 18,000 feet (5,486 meters).