The Army’s Black Hawks Are Getting a Robotic Brain Transplant

The U.S. Army is betting big on autonomy—and it’s starting with one of its most iconic helicopters. Near Earth Autonomy, in partnership with aerospace giant Honeywell, just landed a $15 million contract to retrofit UH-60L Black Hawks with autonomous flight systems. The goal? Transform these workhorse helicopters into crew-optional logistics machines capable of round-the-clock missions—no pilots, no remote operators, and no constant data links required.

Flying Blind, Without the Panic

Near Earth’s secret sauce is its deterministic autonomy system, dubbed Captain. Unlike AI that might waffle in uncertain conditions, this system is designed to make decisive, reliable choices—even when GPS drops out or communications fail. “This isn’t about replacing pilots; it’s about expanding what the aircraft can do when humans aren’t an option,” says a company insider. The tech builds on Near Earth’s decade-plus of autonomous aviation breakthroughs, including the Army’s first fully autonomous helicopter flight in 2010 and systems for the Navy’s AACUS program.

“This isn’t about replacing pilots; it’s about expanding what the aircraft can do when humans aren’t an option.”

Modular Upgrades for a Contested World

The retrofit kits follow a Modular Open Systems Approach (MOSA), meaning they’re designed to slot into existing airframes without requiring a full redesign. Honeywell brings its expertise in avionics and navigation to ensure the solution is both scalable and certifiable. The partnership aims to create a blueprint for modernizing legacy aircraft quickly—starting with the UH-60L but adaptable to other platforms. “Think of it as a plug-and-play autonomy upgrade,” says an industry observer. “The Army gets cutting-edge capability without waiting for a next-gen airframe.”

From Lab to War Zone

Before these robotic Black Hawks hit the field, they’ll undergo rigorous flight testing to refine procedures and prove their mettle in contested environments. Near Earth isn’t new to this dance: the company boasts over 10,000 autonomous flights across 140+ airframes. The ultimate deliverable? A mission-ready system that lets the Army keep logistics humming in high-threat scenarios—where sending human crews might be too risky or impractical.

If successful, the program could redefine how militaries think about aging fleets. Instead of waiting years (and billions) for new aircraft, autonomy kits might offer a faster, cheaper path to 21st-century capabilities. And for the Black Hawk—a design dating back to the 1970s—it’s a chance to prove that even legends can learn new tricks.