en.Wedoany.com Report on Mar 21st, The U.S. Army has announced the receipt of an H-60 Black Hawk helicopter configurable for both autonomous and piloted flight, marking the start of a new testing phase for optionally manned aircraft. This platform integrates autonomous technology developed through DARPA's Aircrew Labor In-Cockpit Automation System (ALIAS) program, a technology refined over more than a decade. The Army states that the system is designed as a retrofit kit, installable on existing aircraft to automate flight functions and reduce pilot workload.

This optionally manned Black Hawk is equipped with a fly-by-wire control system and an autonomous suite capable of managing flight operations from takeoff to landing. The ALIAS kit includes a mission management system and software tools designed for future expansion by integrating additional sensors and third-party applications. The Army notes that the helicopter can be operated by an onboard pilot or controlled remotely from a ground station, and will be used to evaluate performance across a range of mission scenarios. Testing will also focus on the system's performance in low-visibility environments and complex operations.

In recent years, Sikorsky has conducted demonstrations of similar technology, including during the Northern Strike 25-2 exercise where a non-pilot soldier used a tablet to command an optionally manned Black Hawk. In these tests, the aircraft performed cargo transport and simulated medical evacuation missions. Sikorsky is also developing related platforms, such as the autonomous S-70 UAS U-Hawk, as well as civil firefighting applications using MATRIX autonomous technology.

The delivery of the optionally manned Black Hawk comes as the Army continues to restructure its aviation branch. The service plans to cut thousands of aviation positions in Fiscal Years 2026 and 2027, while expanding the role of autonomous aviation systems in military operations.