Army seeking to automate piloting of its BlackHawk helicopters

Skyryse®, the developers of the SkyOS™ universal operating system for flight, has announced a new collaboration with the U.S. Army through a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA).

The partnership aims to explore the potential of integrating SkyOS technology into the Army’s aircraft fleet, including Black Hawk helicopters, to address pilot training, interoperability, and “optionally-piloted capabilities,” according to a company press release issued this week.

Optionally piloted aerial vehicles are a hybrid between a conventional piloted aircraft and an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and can fly with our without humans aboard.

The collaboration focuses on leveraging SkyOS’s automated flight systems to assess their impact on simplifying operations, improving safety, and enhancing mission efficiency. The effort is part of a broader initiative to modernize Army aviation and adapt to evolving operational requirements.

Potential Impacts on Army Aviation

The U.S. Army operates a fleet of approximately 2,400 Black Hawk helicopters, which serve a variety of mission-critical roles. The SkyOS system could potentially introduce several capabilities, such as:

  • Simplified Controls: Flight systems designed to reduce complexity and make operation more intuitive.
  • Autonomy: Features enabling reduced pilot input or fully autonomous operation in certain scenarios.
  • Safety Enhancements: Integrated systems to mitigate risks during operations, adverse weather, and emergencies.

Skyryse CEO Dr. Mark Groden stated, “By combining the Army’s operational expertise with Skyryse’s work in rotorcraft flight controls and automation, we aim to explore solutions that could simplify and enhance aviation for both military and civilian applications.”

This initiative aligns with the Army’s broader focus on modernization, which includes streamlining pilot training and improving mission effectiveness. The CRADA will involve joint testing and validation to evaluate whether SkyOS meets the rigorous standards required for military aviation. Key objectives include reducing pilot workload and increasing interoperability among different aircraft.

Founded in 2016, Skyryse focuses on developing technologies aimed at improving safety and accessibility in aviation. Their SkyOS technology is designed to assist pilots in managing flight operations under various conditions. The company has raised over $300 million in funding to advance its mission.

The partnership between Skyryse and the U.S. Army represents an effort to assess new technologies that could influence the future of Army aviation. By integrating advanced flight control systems, the collaboration seeks to evaluate improvements in safety, efficiency, and operational flexibility.

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