Sikorsky Converts Iconic Black Hawk Into Fully Unmanned ‘U-HAWK’ as Army Eyes Autonomous Lift

Reconfigured UH-60 sheds cockpit, gains 20% more payload volume, and showcases multi-mission autonomy at AUSA as Sikorsky pivots toward drone-enabled Army aviation

WASHINGTON | Sikorsky has taken one of the U.S. Army’s most recognizable aircraft and pushed it decisively into the unmanned era. The company this week unveiled a fully unmanned Black Hawk, designated the S-70 UAS and nicknamed the “U-HAWK,” at the Association of the United States Army annual conference—signaling a major leap in autonomous rotary-wing aviation.

Unlike earlier demonstrations of optionally piloted flight, the U-HAWK has been completely reconfigured as a pure unmanned aircraft, with no cockpit or flight controls. The transformation, executed in less than 10 months, underscores Sikorsky’s push to modernize the Army’s workhorse helicopter for a future increasingly defined by autonomy, logistics at scale, and contested operations.

From Optionally Piloted to Fully Uncrewed

Sikorsky’s latest advance builds on years of experimentation with its Matrix autonomy architecture. At last year’s AUSA, the company remotely flew an optionally piloted Black Hawk from the show floor in Washington while the aircraft operated in Connecticut.

This year’s reveal goes further.

“We purchased a Black Hawk from the Army—a UH-60L Lima model—and within 10 months we’ve taken that aircraft from concept to a full UAS,” said Ramsey Bentley, Sikorsky’s director of strategy and business development for advanced programs.

To do that, Sikorsky removed the cockpit entirely, eliminating crew stations and mechanical flight controls. The payoff is significant: more than a 20% increase in usable internal volume, enabling payloads previously impractical for a Black Hawk-derived platform.

Designed for Combat Support and Logistics

The redesign enables the U-HAWK to serve as a flexible, multi-role asset. Sikorsky replaced the aircraft’s nose with clamshell doors and a forward ramp, allowing it to carry and deploy unmanned ground vehicles, containerized logistics loads, and even a HIMARS pod positioned along the aircraft’s centerline.

The aircraft can also be fitted with a “launched effects quiver,” a modular pod mounted near the doors to deploy drones or other effects from the air—aligning with the Army’s growing emphasis on distributed, attritable systems.

At AUSA, Sikorsky is highlighting that modularity with daily configuration changes. One showcase pairs the aircraft with a Hunter WOLF unmanned ground vehicle—built by HDT Global—which rolls down the ramp during the public reveal. Later demonstrations focus on logistics missions, including the transport of Joint Modular Intermodal Containers (JMICs).

Tablet-Controlled Autonomy

At the core of the U-HAWK is end-to-end autonomous flight. Using Matrix, the aircraft can execute startup, mission execution, and shutdown without human intervention.

“It takes a tablet to operate the aircraft,” Bentley said. “Any soldier can take the tablet, start the aircraft, program a mission, and the aircraft flies fully autonomously.”

That approach reflects a broader Army goal: reducing training burdens while enabling rapid deployment of unmanned systems in high-risk environments—particularly for logistics resupply, forward arming and refueling, and contested lift missions.

A Strategic Pivot After FLRAA and FARA

The U-HAWK’s debut comes amid a strategic inflection point for Sikorsky. The company lost the Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft (FLRAA) competition to Bell Textron, and the Army canceled the Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft (FARA) program in 2024, opting instead to lean more heavily on drones and launched effects.

Against that backdrop, Sikorsky is positioning autonomous versions of proven platforms like the Black Hawk as a bridge between today’s fleet and tomorrow’s force design.

“This capability opens a lot of doors for the customer,” Bentley said, pointing to autonomous logistics, distributed operations, and risk reduction for manned crews.

What Comes Next

Sikorsky plans to begin demonstration flights of the U-HAWK next year, continuing to refine the design while engaging with Army stakeholders. If successful, the effort could redefine how legacy helicopters contribute to a force increasingly shaped by autonomy, speed of adaptation, and operational resilience.

For the Black Hawk—an aircraft synonymous with manned lift for nearly five decades—the transformation into an unmanned platform marks a profound shift, and a glimpse of where Army aviation may be headed next.

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-- By Andre Leday

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