Will Inform Marine Corps For Aerial Logistics Connector Program

Sikorsky announced it has been selected by the U.S. Marine Corps to demonstrate the maturity and capability of the MATRIX flight autonomy system in operationally relevant flights during 2025 using the company’s Optionally Piloted UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter.

The flights will inform the Corps’ Aerial Logistics Connector Program how autonomous aircraft can resupply and sustain Marines in a contested battlespace.

The demonstrations will show how autonomous aircraft can keep future marine forces supplied from ships or bases onshore. Marine operators will use a tablet to interface with the aircraft to make changes in the mission before and after takeoff to evaluate the software, its usability and capabilities.

MATRIX was initially intended to improve safety of flight for crewed helicopters, and then was matured with DARPA funding through its ALIA program. The advanced features added include assisted flight handling for two-pilot operations, virtual copilot for a single pilot, or fully autonomous flight with no pilots.

Rich Benton, VP and General Manager of Sikorsky said, “Aircraft with MATRIX autonomy can safely and reliably perform a variety of complex missions, including internal and external cargo transport with no one on board. With the Marine Corps, we will explore how an autonomy-based fleet of uncrewed aerial systems, rotary and fixed wing aircraft can sustain the expeditionary force with precision resupply during distributed, high-tempo operations.”

FMI:  www.lockheedmartin.com/