The S-70UAS U-Hawk is a fully autonomous helicopter that trades a cockpit for 25% more cargo space and transformational new capabilities for the ground commander. Photo: Sikorsky
SIKORSKY U-HAWK
AND NOMAD A
fter pioneering autonomous rotorcraft flight using its Matrix flight autonomy
system, Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin company, went to the next level in 2025 with its S-70UAS U-Hawk helicopter.
What makes the U-Hawk so impressive is its complete lack of a cockpit. Because this uncrewed “L” model Black Hawk is flown by Matrix, Sikorsky has removed the legacy cockpit flight displays, mechanical flight controls, and pilot seats, which are replaced with two clamshell doors and a ramp.
Without a cockpit, the U-Hawk now has 25% more cargo space than a crewed Black Hawk. This allows it to carry longer cargo such as a Naval Strike Missile pod or a HIMARS rocket pod, transport a drive-on/off uncrewed ground vehicle, deliver supplies, or load up to four Joint Modular Intermodal Containers (JMICs).
The U-Hawk also can launch swarms of launched effects (reconnaissance drones) from quivers on one or both sides of the aircraft, or carry up to five internal auxiliary fuel tanks for extended time on station.
Sikorsky Innovations, the company’s prototyping group, is developing the U-Hawk to be flown singly, in autonomous
66 Nov/Dec 2025
rotorcraft groups, or in teams with crewed aircraft.
“We envision a U-Hawk leading and supporting air assaults,” Sikorsky Spokesperson Frans Jurgens said. “When pilots are resting, commanders will have flexibility to continue resupply missions on a contested battlefield with U-Hawk aircraft. A soldier will have full command from start-up to shutdown. A soldier can upload mission goals to a U-Hawk aircraft via a tablet. The Matrix autonomy system automatically generates a flight plan, relying on cameras, sensors and algorithms to help navigate the fly-by-wire helicopter safely to its destination.”
Also in 2025, Sikorsky demonstrated its Matrix-controlled, battery-powered Nomad VTOL UAS rotor blown wing aircraft. Equipped with two proprotors attached to a 10-foot wingspan, the payload-capable Nomad was able to take off, hover and land vertically, and also fly like an airplane. (A rotor blown wing uses the airflow generated by its proprotors to “blow” over the wing. This reduces drag on the wing in hover and cruise modes, when transitioning from vertical to horizontal flight, and vice versa.)
Besides its ability to use hybrid-electric or conventional propulsion, what makes the Nomad design so compelling is its scalability. This VTOL UAS can range from the size of a tabletop up to
Sikorsky unveiled the S-92 Phase IV main gearbox this year. Photo courtesy Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin company. Photo: Sikorsky
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