Black Hawk getting unmanned test

The Army is collaborating with an aircraft maker to develop a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter that can fly without a pilot.

Sikorsky announced the project April 15 and plans to fly the aircraft later this year in two demonstrations, said Jim Kagdis, program manager for Sikorsky’s advanced programs.

Plans for the first demonstration, scheduled for this summer, will have an unmanned Black Hawk with a safety pilot on board flying in formation with a manned Black Hawk. Later in the year, the goal is to fly an unmanned cargo resupply mission with the aircraft.

Sikorsky Innovations, a new technology development organization within the company, is working on the technologies for “optionally piloted” aircraft, Kagdis told reporters.

The Army is looking at aircraft that can go pilotless as one capability for the 2016 to 2035 time frame, according to the service’s newly released unmanned aircraft systems road map.

The intention is to increase reconnaissance coverage and support without increasing manned flight hours, according to the road map.

Sikorsky also announced it has offered its Light Tactical Helicopter concept for the Army’s Armed Aerial Scout program.

“We believe the Light Tactical Helicopter will be able to operate at altitudes and air speeds no conventional helicopter can match,” said Scott Starrett, president of Sikorsky military systems.