First Black Hawk that can fly without pilot delivered to US Army

The U.S. Army received its first Black Hawk helicopter capable of flying with or without a pilot on March 20, 2026. This new aircraft, designated the H-60Mx, represents a significant advancement in military aviation by enabling crewed, optionally piloted, and fully autonomous flight modes. Developed from over a decade of research including DARPA’s Aircrew Labor In-Cockpit Automation System (ALIAS) program, the H-60Mx incorporates Sikorsky’s MATRIX autonomy software, which functions as a digital co-pilot managing all flight phases. The helicopter is based on the UH-60M Black Hawk platform and features a fly-by-wire control system, an open architecture for future upgrades, and capabilities to carry troops or heavy external loads. The H-60Mx will undergo rigorous testing in 2026 to validate autonomous navigation, obstacle avoidance, and coordinated missions alongside crewed and uncrewed systems, including operations in contested environments with electronic interference. This helicopter is central to