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Sikorsky Unveils U-Hawk: Next-Gen Autonomous Utility Drone for Multi-Mission Operations
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Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin company, has unveiled the S-70UAS U-Hawk, a fully autonomous version of the UH-60L Black Hawk helicopter, developed from concept to prototype in just 10 months, according to the company`s press relese on October 13.
The U-Hawk features a redesigned fuselage with actuated clamshell doors and a ramp, providing 25% more cargo space than a standard Black Hawk.
Presented at the Association of the United States Army exposition, the aircraft integrates Sikorsky’s MATRIX autonomy system with a third-generation fly-by-wire control setup, eliminating the traditional cockpit and crew.
The expanded cabin allows the aircraft to accept longer cargo, such as missiles, drive on/off an uncrewed ground vehicle, roll-on/off supplies, launch swarms of reconnaissance or strike drones, and carry internal fuel tanks for increased range or extended time on station.
“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. “We developed this prototype from concept to reality in under a year, and the modifications made to transform this crewed Black Hawk into a multi-mission payload UAS can be replicated at scale quickly and affordably. The U-Hawk continues the Black Hawk legacy of being the world’s premier utility aircraft and opens the door to new capabilities as a UAS.”
The redesign and conversion were led by Sikorsky Innovations, the company’s rapid prototyping division, with the first flight scheduled for 2026.
By removing the cockpit and crew stations, the U-Hawk gains 25% more usable space, allowing it to transport oversized cargo while maintaining the same maximum gross weight.
Potential missions include carrying up to four Joint Modular Intermodal Containers, transporting a HIMARS rocket pod or two Naval Strike Missiles, deploying reconnaissance or loitering munitions, and self-deploying over 1,600 nautical miles or loitering for up to 14 hours without refueling.
A tablet interface allows operators, rather than pilots, to control the aircraft from startup to shutdown. The MATRIX system automatically generates flight routes, using cameras and sensors to navigate safely to the destination.
“The U-Hawk offers a cost-effective utility UAS by leveraging commonality with the existing UH-60 fleet, and its uncrewed nature reduces both operating and maintenance costs,” said Igor Cherepinsky, director of Sikorsky Innovations.
He noted that the team had concentrated on improving efficiency during the retrofit process by developing vehicle management computers, actuation components, and airframe modifications, adding that these advancements would be integrated into future upgrades and production across Sikorsky’s family of unmanned aircraft systems.
Earlier, Ukrainian defense tech startup Swarmer secured $15 million from major US investment funds—the largest private investment in Ukraine’s defense technology sector since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion.
