Sikorsky Converts Black Hawk Into U-Hawk, A Battle-Ready Autonomous UAS
From concept to reality in 10 months, Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin company, has transformed a UH-60L Black Hawk helicopter into the S-70UAS U-Hawk.
Sikorsky replaced the cockpit section with actuated clamshell doors and ramp, and swapped conventional flight controls with a third-generation, low-cost, fly-by-wire system integrated with MATRIX autonomy technology.
Sikorsky is innovating a 21st century solution by converting UH‑60L Black Hawks into a fully autonomous utility platform
said Rich Benton, Sikorsky vice president and general manager. The S-70UAS U-Hawk aircraft shows a larger cabin space.
The modifications made to transform this crewed Black Hawk into a multi-mission payload UAS can be replicated at scale quickly and affordably.
Author's summary: Sikorsky transforms Black Hawk into autonomous UAS.