Sikorsky Set to Showcase Advanced Flight Autonomy for U.S. Marine Corps Operations

Sikorsky has been chosen by the U.S. Marine Corps to demonstrate the advanced capabilities of its MATRIX™ flight autonomy system. Scheduled for 2025, these operationally significant demonstrations will utilize Sikorsky’s Optionally Piloted UH-60 Black Hawk® helicopter to showcase how autonomous aircraft can enhance logistics in contested environments.

“MATRIX-equipped aircraft can execute complex missions autonomously, from cargo transport to precision resupply, without any onboard crew,” said Rich Benton, Sikorsky’s Vice President and General Manager. “We’re excited to explore with the Marine Corps how this technology can sustain expeditionary forces in high-tempo, distributed operations.”

These demonstrations will illustrate the potential of autonomous aircraft to supply Marine units operating from naval ships or expeditionary bases on land. Additionally, Marines will have the opportunity to interact with these autonomous systems via a tablet, enabling quick mission adjustments before or after launch.

The demonstrations are part of the Marine Corps’ Aerial Logistics Connector program, funded under a Phase 1 agreement through the Naval Aviation Systems Consortium’s Other Transaction Agreement with the Naval Air Systems Command.

MATRIX: A Versatile Autonomy System

Developed by Sikorsky Innovations, the MATRIX system has been proven in both military and commercial settings across various aircraft types. Originally designed to enhance flight safety for crewed operations, its development was significantly advanced through the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) ALIAS program. The system now supports multiple configurations, including assistance for dual-pilot operations, a virtual co-pilot for solo pilots, or complete autonomous flight.

Recent MATRIX Demonstrations

• July 2024: At Stafford Airport, Virginia, Sikorsky and DARPA conducted autonomous flight demonstrations of the Optionally Piloted Black Hawk helicopter for DoD officials.
• October 2024: At the AUSA exposition in Washington D.C., attendees learned how to dispatch mission objectives to the helicopter, which then autonomously executed tasks from Sikorsky’s headquarters in Connecticut, 300 miles away.

These demonstrations follow the successful autonomous logistics flights during Project Convergence 2022, where the system proved its reliability in cargo resupply missions for the U.S. Army.

For further details on MATRIX and other recent innovations, visit Lockheed Martin’s MATRIX page.

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