During the Northern Strike 25-2 exercises, a non-qualified sergeant successfully operated the autonomous system of the OPV Black Hawk helicopter using only a tablet.
Sikorsky, a subsidiary of Lockheed Martin, has announced unprecedented tests with the autonomous OPV Black Hawk (Optionally Piloted Vehicle), which was controlled by a service member with no pilot training.
According to the manufacturer, during the Northern Strike 25-2 military exercises held in August, a First Class Sergeant received less than an hour of training to operate the autonomous system and became the first military member to independently pilot and execute missions with the Black Hawk using only a portable tablet.
Sikorsky stated that this was the first time the OPV system had been directly controlled by a member of the armed forces rather than by trained test pilots or engineers. The demonstration showcased the system’s maturity and ease of operation, eliminating the need for extensive specialized training.
During the tests, several cargo delivery methods were evaluated, including external sling load transport.
Sikorsky had previously carried out similar demonstrations at the AUSA symposium in 2024, when Stephanie Hill, president of Lockheed Martin Rotary and Mission Systems, controlled an OPV Black Hawk from a distance of 483 kilometers (between Washington and Bridgeport) — also using a tablet.
The new testing phase comes just weeks after the unveiling of the S-70UAS U-Hawk prototype at the AUSA symposium — a project that combines the accumulated experience from the autonomous MATRIX system with ongoing developments from the OPV Black Hawk program, active since 2020.
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Source and images: Sikorsky / Lockheed Martin / Northern Strike 25-2. Content created with AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
