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A recent test flight of an autonomous helicopter equipped with advanced autonomy software has demonstrated key capabilities in support of future unmanned logistics missions. Conducted in Grand Prairie, Texas, the test featured an Airbus H145 rotary-wing platform operating without human intervention, powered by Shield AI’s “Hivemind” autonomy system.
According to the press release, The H145 helicopter, outfitted with Airbus’ Helionix avionics suite, served as the testbed for the autonomous technology. Shield AI’s Hivemind system was integrated directly into the mission control system, functioning as the aircraft’s pilot. During the test, the helicopter completed a fully autonomous takeoff and landing, validating the software’s ability to control and navigate the aircraft independently.
The flight is part of the U.S. Marine Corps’ Aerial Logistics Connector (ALC) program, which seeks to develop aircraft capable of operating autonomously in contested or remote environments. These aircraft are intended to perform logistics missions across distributed operational areas, reducing risks to personnel and extending the operational reach of forces on the ground.
Following this successful demonstration, Shield AI and Airbus plan to integrate the Hivemind software into other Airbus helicopters, including the MQ-72C Lakota. Still in development, the MQ-72C is designed as an unmanned logistics platform capable of operating in rugged conditions.
The ability to operate autonomously without GPS or communications links is a key feature of the Hivemind system. The software enables intelligent, adaptive flight and is being developed for multi-domain use across a wide variety of crewed and uncrewed aircraft.
Future testing will continue to evaluate the integration of Hivemind into different airframes, with a particular focus on supporting logistics and resupply operations in austere or contested environments.
The test represents a step forward for the ALC initiative, highlighting the potential of autonomous flight technology to change the way logistics are conducted in future military operations.
