A U.S. Army National Guard sergeant has become the first soldier to plan and execute real-world missions with Sikorsky’s Optionally Piloted Black Hawk helicopter, powered by MATRIX™ autonomy technology. The demonstration took place during the Northern Strike 25-2 exercise in Michigan, marking a milestone in autonomous military aviation.
In collaboration with the Joint Personnel Recovery Agency and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), Sikorsky—part of Lockheed Martin—deployed the OPV Black Hawk to test its ability to operate autonomously in realistic mission conditions. The aircraft completed a series of logistics and medical evacuation exercises, expanding its potential operational use beyond test environments.
Trained in under an hour, the National Guard sergeant independently planned and executed several missions using a handheld tablet to control the helicopter. The aircraft transported a 2,900-pound external load, executed precision parachute drops, and conducted simulated medical evacuations—all without onboard pilots. It was the first time an untrained soldier directly commanded an autonomous Black Hawk rather than a test pilot or engineer.
The exercise featured three mission scenarios:
- Parachute and Logistics Operations: From a U.S. Coast Guard vessel 70 nautical miles away, the soldier used the tablet interface to direct resupply and parachute drop missions.
- External Sling Load: The OPV Black Hawk performed its first autonomous in-air load hookup, using its hover stability system to connect a 2,900-pound water tank without pilot intervention.
- HIMARS and MEDEVAC Support: The aircraft transported HIMARS launch tubes and conducted a simulated medical evacuation, transferring a patient to a piloted Black Hawk at an unimproved landing site.
According to Sikorsky Vice President and General Manager Rich Benton, MATRIX™ technology aims to reduce pilot workload and enhance mission flexibility. “An optionally piloted Black Hawk can operate in challenging conditions or conduct resupply without crew onboard, increasing resilience in contested logistics situations,” Benton said.
Developed under DARPA’s Aircrew Labor In-cockpit Automation System (ALIAS) program, MATRIX™ allows non-pilot operators to manage complex aviation tasks safely in hazardous or low-visibility conditions.
The success at Northern Strike demonstrates the growing potential of autonomous systems in military operations, where reduced risk and increased adaptability are critical for future missions.