Uncrewed Black Hawk helicopter takes to the skies for the first time

The UH-60 Black Hawk, workhorse of US Army aviation, was flown with no crew for the first time this week, after being fitted with an automated flying system

By David Hambling

The US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) and aircraft manufacturer Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin company, have flown a Black Hawk helicopter with nobody onboard for the first time.

The UH-60 Black Hawk, which is the workhorse of US Army aviation, usually requires two pilots. The Aircrew Labor In-Cockpit Automation System (ALIAS) allows it to be flown with two people, one person or no one. The first uncrewed flight took place at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, on 5 …