Sikorsky to Demonstrate MATRIX System for the USMC

Our Bureau - : Dec 11, 2024 - : 11:51 pm

Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin company, has been selected by the U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) to showcase the capabilities of the MATRIX flight autonomy system. Scheduled for 2025, these demonstrations will use Sikorsky's Optionally Piloted UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter and aim...

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“Aircraft with MATRIX autonomy can safely and reliably perform a variety of complex missions, including internal and external cargo transport with no one on board,” said Rich Benton, vice president and general manager of Sikorsky. “With the Marine Corps, we will explore how an autonomy-based fleet of uncrewed aerial systems, rotary and fixed wing aircraft can sustain the expeditionary force with precision resupply during distributed, high-tempo operations.”

The tests will be conducted both on Navy ships and expeditionary bases, with Marines using a tablet interface to modify missions before or after take-off.

The demonstration efforts are funded by a Phase 1 Aerial Logistics Connector agreement managed under the Naval Air Systems Command through an Other Transaction Agreement facilitated by the Naval Aviation Systems Consortium.

Sikorsky Innovations, the company’s development group, has tested the MATRIX system across multiple aircraft types in both military and commercial environments. Initially focused on enhancing crew safety in helicopters, the system’s development has been supported by DARPA's ALIAS program, leading to features such as assisted flight handling for two pilots, a virtual co-pilot for single-pilot operations, and a fully autonomous flight with no onboard pilots.

In July at Stafford Airport, Virginia, and October 2024 at the AUSA exposition, Sikorsky and DARPA successfully demonstrated the system to DoD officials. During these events, mission goals were entered via a remote interface, while the helicopter autonomously executed a take-off, short flight circuit, and landing.

These demonstrations build on previous achievements, notably at Project Convergence 2022, where Sikorsky and DARPA showed the Optionally Piloted Black Hawk’s ability to perform autonomous cargo resupply missions internally and externally, without the need for human crew members.

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