Lockheed Martin’s Sikorsky division has unveiled the UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter—which previously performed flight demonstrations in both manned and unmanned configurations—as a completely redesigned unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) system. Dubbed the S-70 UAV and nicknamed “U-HAWK,” this new platform is considered Sikorsky’s latest and most radical leap forward in autonomous helicopter technology and is being showcased at the Association of the U.S. Army (AUSA) conference.
From Concept to UAV in 10 Months
Ramsey Bentley, Sikorsky’s director of advanced programs strategy and business development, revealed that the U-HAWK was developed in less than a year. Based on a UH-60 Lima-model Black Hawk purchased from the U.S. Army, the company took the aircraft from the concept phase to the AUSA exhibition in just 10 months.
At the heart of this transformation lies the Matrix autonomy system, which Sikorsky had previously used in its autonomous flight demonstrations. However, this time the company took a step further, thinking, “We can do better… Why don’t we take a Black Hawk and turn it into a UAV?” For this conversion, Sikorsky “completely removed the cockpit and crew stations. We removed all flight controls and transformed the aircraft into a pure UAV.” Removing the cockpit increased the aircraft’s internal volume by more than 20 percent.
Multi-Mission Logistics and Combat Capability
The redesign of the U-HAWK provides it with a wide range of payload capabilities to support combat operations and logistics. Bentley said, “We removed the nose of the aircraft and replaced it with hinged doors and a ramp. This allows us to load unmanned ground vehicles and install a [HIMARS] compartment right in the middle of the aircraft,” he said. Additionally, the U-HAWK can be equipped with launch effector pods designed to strike targets from the sides of the aircraft.
Sikorsky is showcasing this versatility at the AUSA exhibition with various configurations:
- Day 1: Launch effect capsules and a Hunter WOLF Unmanned Ground Vehicle (UGV) capable of deploying from the front ramp.
- Later in the week: It will be loaded with Joint Modular Intermodal Containers (JMICs) to highlight logistics missions.
Fully Autonomous Flight Capability
Bentley stated that the U-HAWK uses Matrix technology to enable fully autonomous flight during the “launch, flight, and landing” phases. A single tablet is all that’s needed to operate the aircraft; Bentley added, “Any soldier can pick up this tablet, start the aircraft, program a mission for it, and the aircraft becomes fully autonomous.” Sikorsky plans to conduct demonstration flights while continuing to work on the U-HAWK’s design over the coming year.
This new platform coincides with a period in which Sikorsky is focused on modernizing the Army’s workhorse helicopter for new roles. The company views this step as a development toward offering Army commanders more flexible and autonomous logistics and mission support options, stating that this capability will “open many doors for the customer.”
