A fully autonomous Black Hawk helicopter has flown for the first time without a pilot at the controls.

       The helicopter took to the skies, with no passengers on board, above Fort Campbell, Kentucky, for 30 minutes.

       The test flight on 5 February was a partnership between Lockheed Martin Sikorsky and the Defence Armed Research Projects Agency (DARPA). A second flight took place on 7 February.

       The project is part of DARPA’s Aircrew Labor In-Cockpit Automation System (ALIAS) programme, which aims to put “removable kits” into existing military aircrafts to “promote the addition of high-level automation”.

       An autonomous Black Hawk could be used on rescue missions without any risk to a pilot, or to deliver supplies in a dangerous war zone.

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       The Black Hawk flew after it had Sikorsky MATRIX autonomous technology installed to allow it to fly without a pilot.

       (Lockheed Martin Sikorsky)

       During the flight, ALIAS had to overcome a string of simulated obstacles before performing a perfect landing back on the runway.

       “With reduced workloads pilots can focus on mission management instead of the mechanics,” said Stuart Young, program manager in DARPA’s Tactical Technology Office.

       “This unique combination of autonomy software and hardware will make flying both smarter and safer.”

       The autonomous helicopters will help the Army to have “much more operational flexibility” in its missions, said Mr Young.

       “This includes the ability to operate aircraft at all times of the day or night, with and without pilots, and in a variety of difficult conditions, such as contested, congested, and degraded visual environments.”