Following the tests with the MATRIX autonomy kit on the UH-60L Black Hawk helicopter for unmanned use, Sikorsky unveiled the U-Hawk as the finalised solution.
Sikorsky unveiled the U-Hawk unmanned helicopter, which is not only an unmanned Black Hawk helicopter but also one with design optimisations for increased cargo capacity by exploiting the absence of pilots.
Internal redesign and significant structural modification were involved in the making of UH-60L into U-Hawk, with the maiden flight set for 2026.
The UH-60 derivative unveiled at AUSA 2025 removes the cockpit section to increase the internal cargo volume by 25% and allow axial loading from the front, thanks to the canopy’s replacement with a door-ramp assembly that is aerodynamically identical.
U-Hawk, using common components otherwise, can be controlled from manned Black Hawk helicopters or other control points.
Sikorsky has given some of the possible missions as: cargo delivery (Up to 4000 kg externally), UGV deployment, deployment of canister-launched UAVs for ISR or strike (Sideways launch from cargo bay), and ISR (14 hours of endurance, 1600 nm range).
U-Hawk might be one of the technological advancements in the Black Hawk line to ensure the goal of service into the 2070s, with the FLRAA programme’s MV-70 (V-280) tiltrotor still having a time to take in order to form a new backbone for the US Army and potentially US Marines. Another important upgrade for Black Hawk is the T901 turboshaft engine to provide a major power boost at 3000 shp per engine, also to be applied on AH-64 Apache attack helicopters.
Author: Kaan Azman
Editor:Özgür Ekşi
