Airbus Helicopters Unveils U145 Uncrewed H145 Variant at ILA Berlin

Airbus Helicopters unveiled a full-scale mock-up of the U145, an uncrewed variant of its H145 twin-engine helicopter, at the ILA Berlin airshow on June 8, 2026. The platform is designed to serve as a high-capacity, mission-agnostic uncrewed aerial system (UAS) for both military and civil operators.

In a press release issued during the event, the manufacturer confirmed that the U145 will leverage the existing H145 airframe and Safran Arriel 2E engines while removing the physical cockpit to maximize cargo volume. The aircraft represents the company’s second conversion of a crewed helicopter into a UAS, following the VSR700 program based on the Cabri G2.

Design and operational timeline

The U145 will feature a maximum take-off weight (MTOW) of 3,800 kilograms. To facilitate its primary role in high-volume cargo supply, the design incorporates specific structural adaptations, including an integrated nose door and a foldable loading table.

Airbus Helicopters plans to conduct the maiden flight of the U145 by the end of 2026, with a safety pilot onboard during initial testing. The company targets an entry into service in the early 2030s.

“With the U145, we are offering our customers an autonomous, uncrewed version of our H145 helicopter, combining the proven airframe, power and useful load of the H145 with the autonomy of a UAS,” stated Matthieu Louvot, CEO of Airbus Helicopters.

Parallel development in the United States

The European U145 program runs concurrently with a similar initiative led by Airbus U.S. Space & Defense. The United States division is developing the MQ-72C, an autonomous variant of the UH-72B Lakota, which is the United States military version of the H145 family.

The MQ-72C is tailored for the United States Marine Corps (USMC) Aerial Logistics Connector program, designed to provide autonomous resupply capabilities in contested environments. Airbus integrated the Hivemind autonomy package from Shield AI into the MQ-72C, achieving its first autonomous flight in August 2025.

In April 2026, the MQ-72C completed an integrated autonomous flight test. During this evaluation, the aircraft demonstrated the ability to scan landing zones, detect obstacles, and identify alternative landing sites using technology provided by partners Shield AI, L3Harris Technologies, and Parry Labs.

Future mission expansion and partnerships

While initial development focuses on logistics, Airbus intends the U145 to feature a modular architecture capable of supporting diverse mission profiles. Projected future applications include disaster management, firefighting, armed scouting, and surveillance.

The manufacturer is also exploring the platform’s potential as a drone mothership for air-launched effects, partnering with European missile manufacturer MBDA for this capability. Louvot noted that Airbus will collaborate with leading autonomous mission partners to expand the UAS ecosystem in Europe.

The baseline H145 family provides a mature foundation for the uncrewed variant. According to Airbus, more than 1,800 H145 family helicopters are currently in service globally, having accumulated over 8.5 million total flight hours.

AirPro News analysis

We view the U145 and its MQ-72C counterpart as a pragmatic approach to heavy-lift autonomous vertical flight. By utilizing an airframe with 8.5 million flight hours rather than developing a clean-sheet design, Airbus significantly reduces aerodynamic and mechanical risk. The removal of the cockpit and associated life-support systems likely yields a substantial payload dividend, making the 3,800-kilogram MTOW highly efficient for cargo operations. The dual-track development between Europe and the United States also allows Airbus to satisfy distinct regulatory and defense procurement requirements while sharing core autonomy learnings across the Atlantic.

Sources: Airbus