U.S. Army Orders Three UH-60MX Black Hawk Helicopters to Expand Autonomous Flight Testing.

The U.S. Army has ordered three additional UH-60MX Black Hawk helicopters equipped with Sikorsky's MATRIX autonomy technology, expanding its ability to test aircraft that can fly with or without onboard pilots. The acquisition supports the Army's evaluation of autonomous aviation as Sikorsky advances a separate Black Hawk modernization strategy featuring more powerful engines, extended range, integrated drones, and advanced digital systems intended to keep the helicopter operationally relevant through 2070.

The U.S. Army received its first H-60Mx Black Hawk helicopter in March 2026, modified with Sikorsky’s MATRIX autonomy technology to operate with or without onboard pilots. The Army has since ordered three additional helicopters to expand its autonomous flight evaluation capabilities. (Picture source: U.S. Army)

The additional helicopters will expand the U.S. Army's UH-60MX evaluation fleet after the first aircraft is delivered in March 2026. Equipped with full-authority fly-by-wire flight controls, the UH-60MX is designed to support conventional two-pilot operations, reduced-crew missions, and potentially pilotless flights, offering greater flexibility for transport, resupply, and other high-risk battlefield missions.

Jason Wrigley, Sikorsky's director of Black Hawk business development, recently confirmed the new three-helicopter contract in an interview published by The War Zone on October 8, 2026. The company did not disclose the contract value, award date, or delivery schedule, while the aircraft remain intended for evaluation rather than immediate operational deployment.

At the center of the Army's UH-60MX effort is Sikorsky's MATRIX autonomy system, which automates flight functions and reduces pilot workload during demanding operations. Developed with support from the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, the technology could let Black Hawks perform selected logistics and reconnaissance missions without exposing flight crews to hostile fire, though operational applications still require Army validation.

Related Topic: US Army Receives UH-60MX Black Hawk Helicopter With Autonomous Flight for High-Threat Missions

Separately, Sikorsky's proposed Black Hawk 2070 modernization strategy includes the GE Aerospace T901 engine, designed to deliver approximately 50 percent more horsepower than the current T700. The added power could improve performance in hot weather and at high altitudes while increasing payload capacity, an important advantage when transporting soldiers, ammunition, and equipment under demanding operational conditions.

The manufacturer is also developing expanded fuel capacity to increase range by about 100 nautical miles (185 kilometers) without reducing usable cabin space. Such an improvement would support longer missions and reduce dependence on forward refueling sites, particularly in the Indo-Pacific region, where Army helicopters may need to operate across widely dispersed islands and bases.

Another proposed improvement involves a new digital architecture and a redesigned modular nose offering more than twice the existing internal volume. These changes would add space and connectivity for sensors, communications equipment, autonomy hardware, and electronic warfare systems, letting the Black Hawk incorporate emerging technologies without major structural changes.

Sikorsky also plans to equip future Black Hawks to launch and control multiple reconnaissance or attack drones. These unmanned aircraft could scout dangerous areas, identify targets, relay communications, and potentially engage threats while the helicopter remains outside heavily defended zones, improving battlefield awareness and reducing exposure to enemy air defenses.

In parallel, Sikorsky is developing the S-70UAS U-Hawk, an uncrewed cargo helicopter derived from the Black Hawk. With a redesigned forward fuselage and cargo doors instead of a conventional cockpit, the aircraft is intended for autonomous resupply and potential unmanned aircraft deployment. The manufacturer says final integration work is underway, with a planned first flight before the end of 2026.

The Black Hawk 2070 initiative remains a manufacturer-led modernization proposal, and the U.S. Army has not approved all its elements for fleet-wide installation. The additional UH-60MX order is a separate acquisition that will give the service more aircraft to evaluate autonomous flight while Sikorsky continues developing improvements in propulsion, range, digital systems, and drone integration.

For the U.S. Army, the immediate military benefit is expanding its autonomous helicopter evaluation fleet and developing new procedures for pilotless operations in contested environments. Sikorsky's broader modernization strategy could eventually let Black Hawks combine traditional troop transport and medical evacuation missions with autonomous logistics, unmanned reconnaissance, and coordinated drone operations, although the scope and timeline for any future Army adoption remain undecided.

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Written by Alain Servaes – Chief Editor, Army Recognition Group
Alain Servaes is a former infantry non-commissioned officer and the founder of Army Recognition. With over 20 years in defense journalism, he provides expert analysis on military equipment, NATO operations, and the global defense industry.