Black Hawk helicopters, which have long become a symbol of US military aviation, will soon receive a new technology that will allow them to fly without pilots. The introduction of autonomous management systems promises to revolutionize the approach to air missions, reducing the load on pilots and increasing the overall safety of flights.
Sikorsky, which is part of Lockheed Martin, received a grant of $ 6 million from the agency of prospective research projects of the US Department of Defense (Darpa) to install the Alias/Matrix standing flight system for the US Army Experimental Army. About it writes Interesting Engineering.
Matrix technology is reported to be a key part of the Lockheed Martin Security Concept, which covers the modernization of the Black Hawk helicopter to ahead of new threats that arise. The introduction of a "robotic brain" of the new generation will allow the helicopter to function autonomously, regardless of whether people are on board.
According to Vice President and CEO of Sikorsky Rich Benton, autonomous helicopters will reduce the load on pilots, increase flight safety and give commanders flexibility to perform tasks in difficult conditions.
"Soldiers will rely on Black Hawk helicopters until the 2070s, and the modernization of the aircraft today will bring dividends for decades for current and future aircraft of army aviation," said Benton.
Sikorsky is expected to integrate the Matrix system into the Black Hawk Army Army in 2025. In addition, in 2025, Black Hawk helicopters can get new generation GE Aerospace T901, which promise better performance, range and durability than available.
We will remind that in 2022 the helicopter Black Hawk for the first time completely autonomously flew for 30 minutes within the Darpa program to create a system of automation of operation of flight crew.
It was also reported that the US Army intends to replace more than 1000 UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters with Bell V-280 valor envelopes, capable of overcoming considerable distances without refueling.
