The Optionally Piloted Vehicle (OPV) Black Hawk program was launched by the US Army Research, Development and Engineering Command (AMRDEC). A JUH-60A was modified as the Rotorcraft Aircrew Systems Concept Airborne Laboratory ( RASCAL ) to develop the next generation of technological advances in military helicopters: obstacle field navigation and safe landing area determination.
In 2022, equipped with DARPA Aircrew Labor In-Cockpit Automation System ( ALIAS ) completed its first uninhabited and autonomous flight.
In 2022, equipped with DARPA Aircrew Labor In-Cockpit Automation System ( ALIAS ) completed its first uninhabited and autonomous flight.
OPV Black Hawk News |
Autonomous Black Hawk for Rapid Response to Wildfires
01-Mar-24 - Rain and Sikorsky demonstrate early detection and rapid response to wildfires with an autonomous Black Hawk helicopter #firefighting
Rain and Uncrewed Black Hawk in Aerial Wildland Firefighting
14-Oct-23 - Rain and Sikorsky are collaborating in advance rapid response capabilities for aerial wildland firefighting and will demonstrate how an uncrewed Black Hawk helicopter with Rain’s Wildfire Mission Autonomy System could respond rapidly to suppress incipient wildfires #firefighting
Remotely Controlled Firefighter Black Hawk Helicopter
12-Apr-23 - California-based Rain Industries remotely commands a Sikorsky UH-60 Fire Hawk helicopter via satellite link from a central command center #firefighting
“Best of What’s New” for Optionally Piloted Black Hawk
01-Dec-22 - The Lockheed Martin / Sikorsky optionally piloted Black Hawk helicopter was selected for Popular Science magazine award “Best of What’s New” 2022 #innovation
Black Hawk Flies Missions Without Pilots
04-Nov-22 - Sikorsky and DARPA’s Autonomous Black Hawk helicopter completed uninhabited flight lifting external cargo and flying casualty evacuation and medical resupply missions #drones| 09-Feb-22 | “ALIAS” OPV Black Hawk First Autonomous Flight #drones |
| 30-Mar-21 | OPV Black Hawk with Supervised Autonomy #drones |
| 19-Aug-19 | Black Hawk SFM Drone First Flight #drones |
| 06-Jun-19 | New Fly-by-Wire Kit for Optionally Piloted Black Hawk #BlackHawk |
| 20-Jan-16 | UGV/UAV Joint Autonomy demonstration for US Army |
| 13-May-14 | Autonomous UH-60A for Cargo missions |
| 13-May-14 | Sikorsky and NREC partners in Army demonstration |
| 21-Apr-14 | Optionally Piloted Black Hawk First Flight |
| 29-Apr-13 | US Army Optionally Piloted Black Hawk |
| 03-Dec-12 | US Army Black Hawk flies autonomously |
List of Operators of OPV Black Hawk |
| Years | Model | Org | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1974- | S-70 H-60 |  Sikorsky Helicopters |
Construction Numbers |
| C/N | Year | History | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 70-115 | 1980 | 79-23298,N600PV | ||
