The US Marine Corps will test Sikorsky’s MATRIX flight autonomy system on a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter next year.
The service aims to evaluate how autonomous aircraft can support resupply operations, whether deployed from naval vessels or operating at expeditionary bases on land.
MATRIX provides advanced flight mode capabilities, offering multiple options: it can assist personnel as a virtual co-pilot or perform fully autonomous flights without a crew on board.
Marines will interact with the aircraft through a tablet, enabling them to adjust mission parameters before and after takeoff.
“Aircraft with MATRIX autonomy can safely and reliably perform a variety of complex missions, including internal and external cargo transport with no one on board,” said Rich Benton, Sikorsky vice president and general manager.
“With the Marine Corps, we will explore how an autonomy-based fleet of uncrewed aerial systems, rotary and fixed wing aircraft can sustain the expeditionary force with precision resupply during distributed, high-tempo operations.”
No Crew Onboard
MATRIX is designed to enhance safety in crewed helicopters and is part of DARPA’s ALIAS (Aircrew Labor In-cockpit Automation System) program, which integrates advanced automation capabilities into existing manned aircraft.
Previous demonstrations in 2022 highlighted the system’s capabilities during simulated medical resupply missions.
During these drills, a MATRIX-equipped Black Hawk autonomously transported 14 boxes containing 400 units of real and simulated blood, with a total weight of 500 pounds (226 kilograms).
The mission spanned 83 miles (133 kilometers) in a 50-minute flight, navigating valley terrain and descending to just 200 feet (61 meters) above ground level to minimize visibility, while maintaining an airspeed of 100 knots (115 miles/185 kilometers per hour).