VIDEO Famous Black Hawk, transformed into unanswered helicopters that can transport drone / how it works

Sikorsky presented the S70 unanswered air system, also called Uhawk, which completely removes the pilot from an old Black Hawk UH-60L helicopter and transforms the helicopter into a large drone.

The US company announced on Tuesday that it has transformed a UH-60L Black Hawk helicopter into S-70uas U-Hawk, “a versatile autonomous air system (UAS), which has 25% more transport space than a regular Black Hawk.”

Sikorsky explains that he replaced the section of the pilot cabin with door and ramps operated with flaps and “replaced conventional flight controls with a Fly-Bry-Wire system of the third generation, low-cost, integrated with Autonom Matrix Flight Technology.”

“Basically what we did was to take a Black Hawk [UH60L] And, using our Matrix autonomy system, to turn this aircraft into an UAS (unanswered air system), “said Erskine” Ramsey “Bentley, director of strategy and commercial development for Sikorsky Advanced Programs, suitable breakingdefense.com

The prototype presented to the press was created from an older UH-60L model, which the company bought back from the army, Bentley said.

Doors on the front, a ramp and a drone and rocket launched rockets on the side

Sikorsky engineers have “completely redesigned” the front of the UH-60L, installing open doors and a ramp, explained Bentley, which makes “the entire cab and the cockpit area. [disponibile] either for logistical operations or for mission support operations ”.

This allows soldiers, for example, to drive unanswered terrestrials (UGV) through the front of the aircraft, and in the back of the aircraft can be stored about 40-50 effectors-projectiles or drone systems-to be launched from a kind of “tolb”.

“So, while the army performs a air assault, you can imagine Uhawk by flying in front of the soldiers. As Uhawk reaches the landing area, launch the effectors from the side parts of our aircraft,” Bentley explained. “Then, when landing, the UGV lands, and the aircraft leaves, and this is done before the soldiers get to set foot on the ground.”

Apart from the assault missions, Bentley said that the robo-helicopter can also carry out freight missions, as the aircraft can carry three Joint Modular Container (JMIC) containers and can carry 3,175 kg inside and simultaneously 4,000 kg on the external freight hook. Can carry a Himars missile charger in the center of the aircraft, he added.

Can be operated from the tablet

Regarding the operating mode of S70, it can be controlled from a tablet by a “minimal trained” operator, Igor Cherepinsky reporters, director Sikorsky Innovations, told last week. Depending on the mission, operators can determine how much control they want to have on the aircraft through the Matrix Autonomy system, according to breaking Defense.

“If you tell him to go from A airport to airport, for example, and knows that he is in the civil airspace, he will follow the correct routes and respect the appropriate civil procedures. “It is very autonomous, but in some cases it may not be exactly what you want. That's why we offer this level of adjustable autonomy.”

The S-70uas U-HAWK aircraft exposed this week at the US Army Association exhibition shows a larger space in the cabin for:

• The transport of longer loads such as rockets,
• Loading/downloading a terrestrial vehicle unanswered,
• Loading/unloading supplies,
• Launch of ribs of recognition or attack drones and
• Transport of internal fuel tanks for longer autonomy or longer stationary duration.

“We have developed this prototype from the concept to reality in less than a year, and the changes made to transform this Black Hawk with a crew into a useful multi-mission use can be widely replicated and at an affordable cost,” said Rich Benton, vice president and general manager of Sikorsky.

The first flight will be in 2026

The redesign and structural modification of the UH-60L aircraft in its U-HAWK crew configuration is driven by the Sikorsky Innovations Rapid Prototypire Group. The first flight is expected for 2026, says the company.

By removing the pilot cabin and internal components, U-HAWK has 25% more
Loading space than UH-60L Black Hawk.

The front loading and the extra usable space of the U-HAWK aircraft now offers the flexibility to accommodate oversized loads up to the same maximum gross weight, says the company.

• Air-Sol team-the transport of an unmanned terrestrial vehicle that can be driven directly to and from the aircraft, such as HDT Hunter Wolf 6 × 6 UGV.
• Merchandise – transports up to four common modular intermodal containers (compared to two at present).
• Rocket transport – transports a Himars load with six missiles or two naval attack missiles.
• Effects launched – carry out launched effects that carry sensors/ammunition from tolbe fixed in the cabin.
• Endurance – moves autonomously over a distance of over 1600 Nm (3,000 km) or can park up to 14 hours without refueling.