Transforming the UH-60L Black Hawk: The U-Hawk Unmanned Aircraft System
Overview of the U-Hawk Development
In a rapid timeline of just ten months, Sikorsky, a division of Lockheed Martin, has re-engineered the UH-60L Black Hawk into an advanced autonomous unmanned aircraft system (UAS) known as the S-70UAS™ U-Hawk™. This new iteration features 25% additional cargo volume compared to its predecessor, underscoring a significant enhancement in its operational versatility.
The transformation involved substantial modifications such as the replacement of the cockpit with actuated clamshell doors and a ramp. Traditional flight controls were replaced with a third-generation, cost-effective fly-by-wire system, integrated seamlessly with Sikorsky’s MATRIX™ autonomy technology.
Key Features of the U-Hawk
Displayed at the recent Association of the United States Army exposition, the U-Hawk boasts an expanded cabin designed to fulfill a variety of missions, which include:
- Cargo Flexibility: Capable of handling longer loads including missiles.
- Operational Synergy: Ability to drive on/off from an uncrewed ground vehicle.
- Logistical Support: Efficient roll-on/roll-off capabilities for supplies.
- Drone Deployment: Launching swarms of reconnaissance or strike drones.
- Extended Range: Capacity to carry internal fuel tanks, increasing mission duration and range.
Rich Benton, vice president and general manager of Sikorsky, remarked, “Sikorsky is innovating a 21st-century utility platform by converting the UH-60L into a fully autonomous configuration. Our design journey from concept to prototype in under a year illustrates the feasibility of large-scale adaptation at an economical cost. The U-Hawk elevates the legacy of the Black Hawk by introducing new operational capacities as a UAS.”
Mission Capabilities of the U-Hawk
Structural alterations permit a substantial increase in cargo space. The U-Hawk is designed to accommodate oversized loads while maintaining a maximum gross weight comparable to that of the UH-60L. Specific mission profiles enabled by the U-Hawk include:
- Air-Ground Coordination: Support for platforms like the HDT Hunter Wolf 6×6 uncrewed ground vehicle.
- Increased Cargo Capacity: Capability to transport up to four Joint Modular Intermodal Containers, doubling the previous capacity.
- Missile Transport: Ability to carry six rockets within a HIMARS pod or two Naval Strike Missiles.
- Deployable Effects: Capacity to launch various sensors or munitions from secured positions within the cabin.
- Operational Endurance: Range exceeding 1,600 nautical miles with a loiter time of up to 14 hours without refueling.
Similar to the UH-60L, the U-Hawk retains side-loading capabilities and can externally lift up to 9,000 pounds (4,080 kg) using its cargo hook.
Operation without Pilots
Piloting the U-Hawk diverges from traditional methods—operators utilize a tablet interface to command the aircraft throughout its operation.
With a single keystroke, the clamshell doors open and the ramp lowers, facilitating seamless cargo operations. Upon mission preparation, operators input objectives into the tablet, prompting the MATRIX autonomy system to generate an optimized flight plan using embedded cameras, sensors, and sophisticated algorithms to ensure safe navigation.
Cost-Effectiveness of the U-Hawk
By eliminating the cockpit and all crew accommodations, Sikorsky’s U-Hawk emerges as the first fully autonomous Black Hawk utility helicopter.
Igor Cherepinsky, director of Sikorsky Innovations, emphasized affordability: “The U-Hawk presents a cost-efficient utility UAS, harnessing the commonality with the existing UH-60 fleet. Its uncrewed design markedly reduces both operational and maintenance expenditures. Efficiency in retrofitting is driven by our focus on innovative vehicle management systems, actuation components, and airframe alterations, which will inform future modifications across our UAS offerings.”
The U-Hawk is poised to redefine aerial logistics and utility operations within military applications, paving the way for advanced unmanned capabilities in a rapidly evolving defense landscape.
