Sikorsky Integrates MATRIX Autonomy Suite into UH-60MX Black Hawk Helicopter

Sikorsky, part of Lockheed Martin, recently celebrated a significant achievement with the successful flight testing and delivery of the U.S. Army’s state-of-the-art UH-60MX Black Hawk helicopter, now fully integrated with Sikorsky’s advanced MATRIX™ autonomy suite. This delivery represents a pivotal moment in the Army’s initiative towards enhanced mission-supported autonomy and optionally piloted flight capabilities.

Rich Benton, Sikorsky’s vice president and general manager, emphasized, “The Army is equipped with an innovative tool that supports its transformation vision, allowing for the maturation and qualification of pilot-supported autonomy. This advancement not only boosts mission effectiveness but also enhances the survivability of today’s warfighters while laying the groundwork for future networked systems.”

The UH-60MX mirrors Sikorsky’s Optionally Piloted Black Hawk helicopter, a model that has undergone extensive testing with Army aviators, racking up hundreds of flight hours. Notably, this aircraft was commanded by Secretary of War Pete Hegseth in November 2025. The MATRIX autonomy system has been successfully installed on all three variants of Army Black Hawks: the 60A, 60L, and 60M, marking the UH-60MX as the first fully authority fly-by-wire and optionally piloted helicopter in the Army’s fleet.

Through a collaborative effort, Sikorsky and the Army have integrated fly-by-wire flight controls and the MATRIX autonomy system into the UH-60MX by 2025. The Army Combat Capabilities Development Command (DEVCOM) is set to utilize the UH-60MX for testing and evaluating autonomy capabilities, reaffirming its commitment to effective platforms that can seamlessly transition between manned, optionally piloted, and purely autonomous operations.

Key Benefits of MATRIX Autonomy Suite

Sikorsky’s MATRIX autonomy suite is a cornerstone of the company’s strategic focus on autonomy, contributing to Lockheed Martin’s vision of 21st Century Security, which aims to modernize the Black Hawk helicopter and usher in the innovatively designed S-70UAS™ U-Hawk™ to better align with emerging threats.

Improved Mission Effectiveness

With automated landing-zone detection and obstacle-avoidance features, MATRIX enhances operational safety in degraded visual environments, thereby broadening the tactical capabilities for Army missions.

Enhanced Aircraft Survivability

By providing real-time terrain and obstacle awareness, the system assists pilots and autonomous entities in evading threats effectively, minimizing exposure to hostile fire and dangerous terrain.

Improved Sustainment

The open architecture design significantly cuts down maintenance hours, contributing to a tangible reduction in lifecycle costs.

Reduced Pilot Workload

By automating routine flight control operations, MATRIX allows pilots to concentrate on critical mission decisions, ultimately increasing overall sortie effectiveness.

Foundational Infrastructure for Future Autonomy

MATRIX serves as a scalable foundation for future capabilities, including launched effects and contested logistics, enabling fully optionally piloted or uncrewed operations.

Looking Forward

The UH-60MX is positioned to aid the Army in developing techniques, tactics, and procedures (TTPs) pertaining to optionally piloted and fully autonomous systems. The Army’s integrated human-machine formations are set to conduct a comprehensive array of combat and support missions across both Army and joint force operations.

The MATRIX autonomy system is a vital component of DARPA’s ALIAS (Aircrew Labor In-cockpit Automation System) program, paving the way for the future of combat aviation.