Airbus unveils autonomous helicopter derived from H145

The uncrewed platform combines a proven helicopter design with autonomous technology and has its first flight planned later this year.

Airbus Helicopters has unveiled the U145, an autonomous and uncrewed derivative of its H145 helicopter, at the ILA Berlin airshow, where the company is displaying a full-scale mock-up of the aircraft.

The U145 expands Airbus’ uncrewed aerial systems portfolio and represents the second time the manufacturer has adapted a crewed helicopter for autonomous operations, following the VSR700 programme based on the Cabri G2.

A maiden flight with a safety pilot onboard is planned for the end of 2026, with entry into service targeted for the beginning of the next decade.

Matthieu Louvot, CEO of Airbus Helicopters, says: “With the U145, we are offering our customers an autonomous, uncrewed version of our H145 helicopter, combining the proven airframe, power and useful load of the H145 with the autonomy of a UAS. To develop the U145 and its capabilities as a multi-mission UAS, we will be teaming up with leading autonomous mission partners to further expand the UAS ecosystem in Europe.”

The aircraft replaces the conventional cockpit with a specialised sensor suite and artificial intelligence systems designed to support fully autonomous operations. Airbus has also adapted the design for logistics missions through the addition of an integrated nose door, a foldable loading table and a dedicated cargo floor.

With a maximum take-off weight of 3,800kg, Airbus is positioning the platform as a mission-flexible solution for both civil and military operators. While cargo supply is the primary target mission, the modular design also supports applications including disaster response, firefighting, surveillance, armed scouting, drone mothership operations and crewed-uncrewed teaming.

In the United States, Airbus U.S. Space & Defense, together with Shield AI, L3 Harris and Parry Lab, is offering the US Marine Corps the MQ-72C, an autonomous version of the UH-72B Lakota developed to meet the service's requirements.

More than 1,800 H145 family helicopters are in operation worldwide across military, parapublic and civil roles, accumulating more than 8.5 million flight hours.