Airbus Debuts U145 Autonomous Helicopter Drone for Military and Civilian Missions

Airbus Helicopters has revealed the U145, a new autonomous aircraft based on its popular H145 platform, pushing the company deeper into the growing market for large uncrewed rotorcraft. The aircraft debuted as a full-scale mock-up ahead of the ILA Berlin Air Show and signals the latest effort to blend proven helicopter performance with advanced autonomous flight systems.

Credit: AIRBUS

The company plans to fly the aircraft with a safety pilot on board by the end of 2026. Airbus aims to place the platform into operational service early in the next decade.

Unlike many unmanned helicopters designed from scratch, the U145 builds directly on the H145, one of the most widely used rotorcraft families from Airbus. More than 1,800 H145 helicopters currently operate worldwide across military, civil, and public service missions, logging over 8.5 million flight hours.

Airbus designed the U145 to carry larger payloads and stay airborne longer than many existing rotary-wing drones. The aircraft features a maximum takeoff weight of roughly 3,810 kg and targets missions ranging from cargo resupply to disaster response.

The company removed the traditional cockpit entirely. Instead, Airbus integrated autonomous systems, artificial intelligence tools, and a dedicated sensor package to manage flight operations without onboard pilots.

The redesign also reshapes the aircraft for logistics work. Engineers added an integrated nose cargo door, a foldable loading table, and a reinforced cargo floor to improve loading efficiency during field operations.

Airbus Helicopters Chief Executive Officer Matthieu Louvot said the U145 combines the established airframe and lifting power of the H145 with autonomous operating capabilities usually associated with smaller drones. Louvot added that Airbus plans to work with European autonomy specialists to expand the uncrewed aviation ecosystem of the region.

Airbus expects the U145 to support both civilian and military operations. The company described the aircraft as mission agnostic, meaning operators can adapt it for multiple roles with minimal structural changes.

Potential missions include firefighting, surveillance, armed reconnaissance, and disaster management. Airbus also wants the aircraft to act as a drone mothership capable of launching smaller airborne systems during combat operations.

The company already partners with missile manufacturer MBDA on air-launched effects technology tied to future European defence programs. Airbus also sees the aircraft supporting crewed-uncrewed teaming missions, where autonomous aircraft operate alongside traditional helicopters and fighter aircraft.

The project reflects broader defence trends in the United States and Europe. Military planners increasingly want autonomous aircraft to handle dangerous logistics and reconnaissance missions while reducing risks to pilots in contested environments.

The U145 marks the second attempt by Airbus to convert a crewed helicopter into an autonomous aircraft. The company previously developed the VSR700 uncrewed system from the Cabri G2 helicopter platform.

Airbus believes using an already certified helicopter gives the U145 a major advantage over clean-sheet drone designs. Existing supply chains, maintenance networks, and operational data could shorten development timelines and reduce certification risks.

In the United States, Airbus U.S. Space and Defence already offers a related autonomous aircraft concept to the U.S. Marine Corps. The MQ-72C, developed with Shield AI, L3Harris, and Parry Labs, derives from the UH-72B Lakota helicopter.

The H145 platform itself also brings operational benefits. Powered by twin Safran Arriel 2E engines with full authority digital engine control systems, the helicopter maintains one of the lowest acoustic signatures in its class while producing lower carbon emissions than many competitors.

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Airbus has unveiled the U145, an uncrewed helicopter drone derived from the H145 platform that completely removes the traditional cockpit.

The autonomous aircraft has a maximum takeoff weight of roughly 3,810 kg and features an integrated nose cargo door for logistics and field operations.

The platform is designed for both military and civil missions, including cargo resupply, disaster management, and acting as a drone mothership.

Source: INTERESTING ENGINEERING