• Sikorsky’s MATRIX™ autonomy system enables Black Hawk helicopters to perform missions without pilot input, reacting dynamically to combat environments.
• A non-pilot successfully commanded an autonomous Black Hawk via a tablet during a demonstration at the Association of the United States Army’s annual meeting in Washington, D.C.
• The system, developed with DARPA, has been operationally tested and is ready for transition to the U.S. Army, offering potential for contested logistics and casualty evacuation.
• Recent demonstrations at Yuma Proving Ground showcased autonomous resupply and medical evacuation missions, highlighting the system’s versatility and reliability.
The MATRIX System: a game-changer for autonomous helicopter missions
In a groundbreaking demonstration of military technology, a Black Hawk helicopter took off, hovered, and landed autonomously in Connecticut—all while being commanded from a tablet 300 miles away in Washington, D.C. This feat, showcased at the Association of the United States Army’s annual meeting in October 2024, underscores a seismic shift in modern warfare: the ability to conduct complex missions without risking human lives. Developed by Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin company, in collaboration with the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), the MATRIX™ autonomy system represents a leap forward in unmanned aerial capabilities. With over a decade of development and testing, the system is now poised to revolutionize battlefield logistics, offering the U.S. Army unprecedented operational flexibility in contested environments.
The MATRIX system is not merely a flight director following pre-programmed routes. Instead, it operates independently, adapting to dynamic combat conditions by avoiding threats, optimizing flight paths, and executing emergency procedures as needed. During the demonstration, Stephanie Hill, president of Lockheed Martin Rotary and Mission Systems—a non-pilot—commanded the autonomous Black Hawk using a tablet connected via datalink. While safety pilots were present in the cockpit, the helicopter navigated and executed its mission without human intervention.
This level of autonomy is the result of years of collaboration between Sikorsky and DARPA under the ALIAS (Aircrew Labor In-cockpit Automation System) program. The system’s ability to function with two pilots, one pilot, or no pilots at all makes it a versatile tool for a range of missions, from resupply to casualty evacuation. “We believe MATRIX Technology is ready now for transition to the Army,” said Igor Cherepinsky, Sikorsky Innovations director. “It enables survivability in high-tempo, high-threat environments where Black Hawks operate today.”
Demonstrating the future of battlefield logistics
In mid-October 2022, Sikorsky and DARPA conducted a series of autonomous flight demonstrations at Yuma Proving Ground in Arizona as part of the U.S. Army’s Project Convergence 2022. These flights showcased the system’s ability to perform critical logistics missions in contested environments. Over three flights totaling 2.4 hours, the optionally piloted Black Hawk helicopter delivered supplies, evacuated casualties, and navigated complex terrain—all without human intervention.
One mission involved transporting 400 units of real and simulated blood over 83 miles, descending as low as 200 feet to avoid detection. Another combined external cargo delivery with casualty evacuation, demonstrating how a ground operator could redirect the helicopter mid-flight to neutralize threats and complete the mission. “With no humans on board, the aircraft flew at 100 knots to deliver a large quantity of blood product, an external cargo load, and rescue a casualty,” Cherepinsky explained.
These demonstrations highlight the system’s potential to address one of the most pressing challenges in modern warfare: sustaining forward forces in high-threat environments. By reducing reliance on human pilots, the MATRIX system not only enhances mission efficiency but also minimizes risk to personnel.
Transitioning the technology to the Army
The MATRIX system’s success in testing has paved the way for its integration into the U.S. Army’s existing and future helicopter fleets. In October 2024, Sikorsky received a $6 million award from DARPA to install the MATRIX autonomy system onto the Army’s experimental UH-60M Black Hawk helicopter, designated MX. This upgrade will enable the Army Combat Capabilities Development Command (DEVCOM) to evaluate a wide range of autonomy capabilities, from single-pilot operation to fully uninhabited flight.
“Autonomy-enabled aircraft will reduce pilot workload, dramatically improve flight safety, and give battle commanders the flexibility to perform complex missions in contested and congested battlespace,” said Rich Benton, Sikorsky vice president and general manager. With the Black Hawk expected to remain in service into the 2070s, modernizing the aircraft today ensures its relevance in future conflicts.
The era of autonomous warfare is no longer a distant vision—it is here. The MATRIX system’s ability to command Black Hawk helicopters from hundreds of miles away represents a paradigm shift in military operations, blending cutting-edge technology with strategic necessity. Like a chess grand master moving pieces across a board, commanders can now orchestrate missions with precision and safety, unburdened by the limitations of human presence in hostile environments. As the U.S. Army prepares to integrate this technology into its fleet, the implications for future conflicts are profound: a battlefield where machines bear the brunt of danger, and human ingenuity reigns supreme.
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