US Soldier commands Autonomous Black Hawk with Sikorsky MATRIX tech

A New Chapter in Military Aviation: When Soldiers Fly Helicopters with Tablets

In a significant leap forward for military technology, a recent demonstration has blurred the lines between operator and aviator. For the first time, a U.S. Army National Guard Sergeant, who is not a trained pilot, successfully planned and executed a series of complex missions using an autonomous Black Hawk helicopter. This event, which took place during the Northern Strike 25-2 exercise at Camp Grayling, Michigan, showcased the power and accessibility of Sikorsky’s MATRIX™ technology, an advanced flight autonomy system. The exercise represents a pivotal moment, suggesting a future where complex aerial operations can be managed by soldiers on the ground with minimal training, potentially revolutionizing logistics, resupply, and rescue missions.

The demonstration was not merely a proof of concept; it was a rigorous test in a realistic operational environment. Conducted as a partnership between Lockheed Martin’s Sikorsky, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), and the Joint Personnel Recovery Agency, the exercise aimed to prove the viability of Optionally Piloted Vehicles (OPV) in modern warfare. The core technology, MATRIX, is a key component of DARPA’s Aircrew Labor In-cockpit Automation System (ALIAS) program. This initiative seeks to integrate sophisticated Automation into existing aircraft, reducing the cognitive load on pilots and expanding mission capabilities, especially in high-risk scenarios where sending a crewed aircraft is unacceptably dangerous.

The implications of this successful demonstration are far-reaching. By placing advanced autonomous capabilities into the hands of a soldier with less than an hour of training, the military is exploring a fundamental shift in operational strategy. This technology could enhance the resilience and flexibility of forces in contested environments, allowing commanders to deploy assets more effectively without endangering pilots. The ability for a ground-based soldier to command an aircraft like a large, highly capable drone opens up new tactical possibilities and addresses long-standing challenges in military logistics and personnel recovery.

The Northern Strike Demonstration: Pushing the Boundaries of Autonomy

The Northern Strike 25-2 exercise served as the stage for several groundbreaking achievements in autonomous flight. The central figure, a U.S. Army Sergeant First Class, became the first soldier to take full command of the OPV Black Hawk, directing its every move through an intuitive handheld tablet. This marked a critical departure from previous tests, which were typically overseen by highly trained test pilots or engineers. The soldier’s ability to quickly grasp the system and execute missions underscores the user-centric design of the MATRIX interface, which abstracts the complexities of flight into simple, actionable commands.

From Tablet to Takeoff: A Soldier in Command

The missions conducted were not simple flight patterns. In one scenario, the soldier, positioned on a U.S. Coast Guard boat in Lake Huron, planned and launched a resupply mission to a location 70 nautical miles away. From this remote position, he commanded the autonomous Black Hawk to perform precision parachute drops at varying altitudes over the lake. This exercise demonstrated the system’s capacity for long-range, remotely operated logistics, a critical capability for dispersed military forces.

The Training required for the soldier to achieve this was remarkably brief. In under an hour, he was equipped with the skills needed to operate the sophisticated aircraft. This rapid learning curve is a testament to the MATRIX system’s design philosophy, which aims to make advanced aviation accessible to operators, not just pilots. The system handles the intricate details of flight control, allowing the soldier to focus on the mission objectives, what to move, where to move it, and when.

Throughout the exercises, the OPV Black Hawk performed a variety of cargo delivery methods, including internal transport, external sling loads, and the aforementioned parachute drops. For safety and regulatory compliance within U.S. airspace, a safety pilot was present in the cockpit during all flights, but the aircraft’s actions were dictated by the soldier on the ground. This setup allowed for a robust and safe evaluation of the technology’s readiness for real-world application.

“The level of autonomy that the team has with the MATRIX technology and how that’s put into the [OPV] aircraft, it really takes an operator, not a pilot.” – Ramsey Bentley, Sikorsky Advanced Programs Business Development Director

A Series of Firsts in Autonomous Flight

The Northern Strike demonstration was notable for a series of “firsts” that pushed the envelope of autonomous aviation. One of the most impressive feats was the first-ever autonomous hookup of an external sling load while the aircraft was airborne. The OPV Black Hawk demonstrated exceptional stability, holding a precise hover that allowed soldiers on the ground to quickly attach a 2,900-pound water tank, colloquially known as a “water buffalo.” This capability is crucial, as sling load operations are notoriously demanding for human pilots, requiring immense concentration and skill to maintain a stable hover, especially in challenging wind conditions.

Another significant first was the execution of an autonomous medical evacuation (MEDEVAC) mission commanded by the soldier from within the aircraft. In this simulation, the OPV Black Hawk was used for a personnel recovery, culminating in a tail-to-tail patient transfer to a traditionally piloted Black Hawk at an unprepared landing site. This scenario highlights the potential for autonomous systems to perform high-stakes rescue missions in dangerous environments, getting casualties to care faster and with less risk to recovery crews.

The aircraft also demonstrated its utility in supporting ground artillery units by transporting HIMARS (High Mobility Artillery Rocket System) launch tubes via six separate autonomous hovering hookups. Each of these achievements, taken together, paints a clear picture of a mature and versatile technology. The feedback gathered from these real-world exercises is invaluable, allowing engineers to refine the MATRIX Software in a continuous improvement cycle, as noted by Mike Baran, Chief Engineer at Sikorsky Innovations.

The Future of Military Operations and Beyond

The successful integration of the MATRIX technology into the Black Hawk platform at Northern Strike is more than just a technical achievement; it signals a strategic evolution in military logistics and aviation. The concept of an “optionally piloted” vehicle provides commanders with unprecedented flexibility. A single airframe can perform missions with a full crew, with a reduced crew aided by an AI co-pilot, or completely unmanned, depending on the nature of the mission and the level of risk involved. This adaptability is essential for maintaining operational superiority in complex and contested environments.

Looking ahead, Sikorsky is already proposing a fully uncrewed version of the Black Hawk, dubbed the “U-Hawk.” This initiative could provide a cost-effective pathway to fielding a fleet of autonomous Cargo-Aircraft by converting older UH-60L models that the U.S. Army is phasing out of service. Furthermore, the applications for this technology are not confined to the military. Sikorsky has already demonstrated the OPV Black Hawk’s potential for civilian use, including autonomous wildfire suppression. The U.S. Marine Corps is also slated to test the MATRIX system, evaluating its use for resupply missions from sea to shore, further expanding its operational portfolio.

“With lives on the line, Sikorsky’s MATRIX flight autonomy system can transform how military operators perform their missions. In contested logistics situations, a Black Hawk operating as a large drone offers commanders greater resilience and flexibility to get resources to the point of need.” – Rich Benton, Vice President and General Manager of Sikorsky

Conclusion: A New Paradigm for Air Power

The demonstration at Northern Strike 25-2 represents a confirmed step toward a future where the power of military aviation is not limited to the select few trained as pilots. By empowering a soldier to command a Black Hawk with a tablet, the program has validated a new operational paradigm. This technology promises to make military operations safer, more efficient, and more flexible, allowing forces to project power and deliver supplies in environments that were previously inaccessible or too dangerous for crewed aircraft. The ability to reduce human workload and risk while expanding mission capabilities is a transformative combination.

As the MATRIX technology continues to mature, we can expect to see its integration across a wider range of aircraft and missions, both military and civilian. The spiral development model, which incorporates direct user feedback from events like Northern Strike, ensures that the system will evolve to meet the practical needs of its operators. The journey from a pilot-operated helicopter to a soldier-commanded autonomous asset is well underway, heralding a new era of intelligent, adaptable, and accessible air power.

FAQ

Question: What is the MATRIX™ Technology?
Answer: MATRIX™ is a flight autonomy system developed by Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin company. It is designed to be integrated into aircraft to allow for various levels of autonomous flight, from serving as a virtual co-pilot to enabling fully unmanned operations. It is a core part of DARPA’s ALIAS program.

Question: Was the Black Hawk completely empty during the autonomous flights?
Answer: No. For Safety and regulatory reasons, a safety pilot was on board the Optionally Piloted Black Hawk (OPV) during all flights conducted in the exercise. However, the mission planning and execution were fully controlled by the soldier using a tablet.

Question: What makes this demonstration significant?
Answer: This was the first time a soldier who was not a trained aviator independently planned, commanded, and executed missions with the autonomous Black Hawk. With less than an hour of training, the soldier performed complex tasks like long-range resupply, autonomous sling load hookups, and a simulated MEDEVAC, proving the system’s accessibility and operational readiness.

Sources

• Lockheed Martin Newsroom