Drone Hawk: Sikorsky uncrewed Black Hawk programme

It is one of the largest defence contractors in the world and contributes significantly to the global aerospace industry. Heaps of Lockheed Martin's helicopter businesses mainly revolve around the subsidiary firm known as Sikorsky.

This is an aerospace company that has been designing helicopters for decades. It has manufactured many helicopters both for military and civil use. Here are some of the most important types of helicopters made by Sikorsky: This versatile and iconic helicopter is used by militaries worldwide for a variety of missions such as troop transport, medical evacuation, and search and rescue. Seahawk: a maritime helicopter for anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, and search and rescue operations. CH-53K King Stallion: This heavy-lift helicopter is designed for moving large payloads and equipment over long distances. S-92: a commercial helicopter intended for offshore transport, search-and-rescue operations, and VIP transport. S-76: an extremely popular commercial helicopter that accommodates corporate and executive transport and emergency medical services. Sikorsky helicopters are known for their reliability, performance, and advanced technology. They are widely used by governments, military forces, and commercial operators around the world. Sikorsky, a subsidiary of Lockheed Martin, is involved in a revolutionary initiative that turns the well-known UH-60M Black Hawk helicopter into an autonomous drone. This project, which has been developed with a $6 million grant from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, plans to incorporate Sikorsky's latest ALIAS/MATRIX flight autonomy system into the Black Hawk. This technology will now enable the helicopter to fly on varying levels of autonomy, from single-pilot missions all the way to fully uninhabited flights. Such a technology promises an amazing transformation in aviation, and military and civilian aviation operations, for that matter, it will provide even greater safety, efficiency, and versatility. By investing in autonomous flight, Lockheed Martin and Sikorsky are not just updating the Black Hawk helicopter, but they are opening the horizons to something bigger: a future dominated by unmanned aerial vehicles used for many different applications disaster relief and search and rescue to their use for military operations. The Black Hawk helicopter was first launched in 1979. It's been in service for over 40 years and is still widely used by the US military and various other countries. This has several potential advantages: Safer Flying and reduced Pilot Hazards: The automated systems will reduce accidents and injuries caused by human error or hostile activities. Remote Operation in Dangerous Places: Dangerous missions can be conducted by drones in zones with extreme risk situations, like a disaster area or a combat one. Increased Efficiency of Operations: Extended Flight Time: In addition to continuous surveillance or logistics activities, drones can be programmed for longer flights. Cost Reduction of Personnel: This would save costs by having a less-trained pilot and ground crew but still offering knock-out efficiency levels with autonomous systems. Improved Mission Flexibility: A drone may adjust its mission parameters based on a changing scenario and respond quickly to sudden threats. Tactical Benefits: Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance: Real-time intelligence and reconnaissance data from remote or highly dangerous areas. High-Precision Offensive Strike: Equip autonomous drones with weapons systems, and they can carry out slugs. Logistics and Resupply: Critical supplies and equipment will be transported by drones into the inaccessible areas. Future Potential: More Advanced Autonomous Systems: Future developments in AI and robotics are expected to increase the sophistication of capabilities for flight in an autonomous fashion. Integration with Other Systems: Drones can be integrated with other military systems for more situational awareness and coordination between systems. On a different and equally important note, the fact remains that ethics and legality form part of what is to be under deliberation, on the technology justifying itself as an autonomous military system. Therefore, safety, accountability, and international norms would be crucial aspect as the technology advances.

Sikorsky, a subsidiary of Lockheed Martin, is advancing autonomous aviation technology through a transformative project with the United States Army. Under a $6 million contract awarded by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), Sikorsky will retrofit a UH-60M Black Hawk helicopter with the company's ALIAS/MATRIX flight autonomy system, effectively converting the aircraft into a drone. The modified helicopter designated the MX, is poised to revolutionize operational capabilities by enabling the Army's Combat Capabilities Development Command (DEVCOM) to test a spectrum of autonomy functions, from single-pilot operations to fully autonomous, uncrewed flights. This initiative builds on Sikorsky's prior work under the ALIAS program, where fly-by-wire controls were integrated into the UH-60A Optionally Piloted Black Hawk, a flying laboratory that has accumulated extensive flight hours testing MATRIX autonomy. By 2025, Sikorsky plans to complete the integration of the MATRIX system into the MX, offering DEVCOM a platform to evaluate scalable autonomy for diverse operational scenarios. The project aligns with Lockheed Martin's 21st-century security vision, emphasizing the modernization of the Black Hawk helicopter to address emerging threats. A July 2024 demonstration showcased the system’s versatility, where US military personnel and Department of Defense officials witnessed the aircraft being controlled either by an onboard operator or remotely via a tablet interface. This groundbreaking effort underscores the potential of advanced autonomy in enhancing mission adaptability and effectiveness for modern military operations.

Lockheed Martin funds to convert a helicopter into a drone Lockheed Martin came into being officially on March 15, 1995, following a merger between Lockheed Corporation and Martin Marietta. Nevertheless, the organization has ancient roots dating back to the early twentieth century and includes such companies as the Glenn L. Martin Company, founded in 1912, and the Lockheed Aircraft Company, which was formed in 1913. Lockheed Martin's subsidiary means a company that is owned by Lockheed Martin. Lockheed Martin Corporation is one of the biggest companies in America dedicated to aerospace, defence, security, and technologies. The company produces a variety of military and civilian products, which include:

• Fighter aircraft-like the F-35 Lightning II

• Missiles and rockets

• Helicopters through its subsidiary Sikorsky

• Satellites and spacecraft

• Cybersecurity solutions

Introducing Sikorsky UH-60

United States Of America is a country who always surprises and challenges world with its advancement of technology in all field. The most advance field which USA has is its Defense field its one of the elite field in the world.

USA keeps itself advance and upgrade to maintain its dominance over the world. The area which USA dominated the most was The Middle East.

The advancement of USA Defense system started after the Nuclear attack (Atomic bomb) on Japan i.e bombings on Hiroshima & Nagasaki in the year 1945(End of WW2). Nuclear weapon(Atomic bomb) was considered as the most premium most advanced & futuristic weapon of that time. After this attack USA declared itself as a superpower also many other Europe /European Colonize/ Asian countries who had Arms & Ammunition trade relations with USA considered it as a superpower. But on the other hand Hitler who was the dictator of Germany also the one who started WW2 committed suicide after hearing the news of Soviet troops entered Berlin. After the victory over the Berlin Soviet Union (now Russia) also recognized itself as a superpower but USA along with other countries who followed the ideology of Democracy & Capitalism were in the oppose of considering Soviet Union as a superpower because Soviet Union was a Communist country which was not in the favor of Capitalism & Democracy.

This ideological clash gave rise to cold war between USA & Soviet Union lasted for 45 long years. These 45 years changed the world because there was a huge Technological revolution in all fields. Both of the countries introduced various technology which changed the mankind. The most focused technology was Defense technology both USA & Soviet Union manufactured huge amount Defense material also they developed various Nuclear weapons & sold it to their allies. In the same period of Cold war Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk was introduced in 1979 also its was the most advanced helicopter of the year 1979.Its considered a the most versatile and advanced helicopter of its time.

Why the Black Hawk?

Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk is the only helicopter which is capable of performing any kind of task. It is good in performing tasks like Arsenal(it can easily carry weapons and troops from one place to another), Medical Aid(it is capable of carrying medical support in war zones), Search & rescue(it helps in conducting search & rescue operations in all types of geographical locations), Cargo (it has power to carry heavy vehicles/containers from one place to another), Fire Fighting (it is also very furious in fire fighting drills). It’s the most versatile helicopter in US Defense forces. Also US Forces has used UH-60 Black Hawk very vastly so they are very habitual to it also very known to its ability & features. UH-60 Black Hawk has proved itself in each and every situation as it’s the part of US forces since 1979. Its has also been a part of all major operations carried by US forces. So this might be the reason for converting Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk into drone.

GEOGRAPHICAL ADVANTAGES OF CONVERTING SIKORSKY UH-60 BLACK HAWK INTO DRONE.

USA is a country which has its military bases almost all over the world also its occupied territories of many countries mostly its has its strong base in Middle East region. Due to continuous terror activities an unstable government USA has established strong Military bases in Middle East countries like Syria, Iraq. In Middle East US has to deal with terrorist organizations like ISIS (Islamic State Of Iraq & Syria), AL-Queda & also many other small individual Terrorist groups. ISIS & AL-Queda are as advance as US Forces because USA funded them when this organizations were in their beginning period later due to some disputes there were clashes between USA & Middle East terrorist organizations. Black Hawk has played a major role in clashes against terrorists but many accidents were recorded which caused heavy casualties so and also the terrain of Middle East is very difficult to understand and also the ground routes are not safe air mode of transport is the most preferred mode by the US forces so if Lockheed Martin is successful in converting Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk into drone then there are very less chances of casualties & even if the enemy fires back on the Drone there will be no serious as there is no human present in cockpit. Also Forces can easily control it through their headquarters/base which will save a lot of man power and time. Also if USA has a plan to attack on any country then the Black Hawk drone will play a major role.