Contributor - UK

David Donald

Honeywell and Near Earth Autonomy&nbsp;successfully completed the first autonomous flight of a Leonardo AW139 helicopter last month, the partners announced Tuesday.&nbsp;
Conducted in Phoenix, the flight was undertaken in support of the U.S. Marine Corps’ Aerial Logistics Connector (ALC) program, proving the feasibility of deploying autonomous uncrewed aircraft to deliver supplies in contested environments.
ALC aims to develop and implement logistics systems that reduce risk to personnel while accelerating supply operations and increasing capacity. Further testing of the Honeywell/Near Earth Autonomy system will involve automated obstacle avoidance and integration into military logistics workflows.
The Marines first looked into uncrewed resupply helicopters in the late 2000s, resulting in a pair of Kaman K-Max cargo-lift helicopters being converted for optionally piloted operations. After extensive trials in the U.S., the Marines deployed them for evaluation in Afghanistan between 2011 and 2013.

News and issues relating to civil and military unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS) of all kinds and sizes, including those used for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR), combat (unmanned combat air vehicles, or UCAVs), law enforcement, research and other applications. Of particular focus is the FAA's planned integration of UAS into the U.S. national airspace system.

Honeywell and Near Earth Autonomy Fly Autonomous AW139 Helicopter

Tests illustrate how regular helicopters can be converted for autonomous operations

Last month Honeywell, partnered with system-expert partner Near Earth Autonomy, successfully completed the first autonomous flight of a Leonardo AW139. 

Honeywell Flies Autonomous Helicopter

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Essential news and analysis on the defense aerospace business. Your trusted source for new and ongoing programs and requirements in military aircraft (manned and unmanned), engines, avionics, weapons and associated systems, including ground-based air defense.

Anduril and General Atomics are showing their collaborative combat aircraft in full scale

Loyal Wingmen Face Off in Paris

Baykar’s proven UAVs integrated with Leonardo’s sensors and systems is the offer from LBA Systems

Leonardo Joins Forces With Baykar To Pursue UAV Opportunities

Charles Alcock

New developments and products in avionics, specifically about aircraft electronics in the cockpit.

News and issues relating to the aerospace industry that are related to the science, engineering and business of flight in space involving civil, industrial and military applications, and similar topics related to flight in the atmosphere of the Earth that are not covered more directly by other AINonline subject channels. In other words, both astronautical and aeronautical subjects, except for those aeronautical topics that are specifically covered elsewhere on this website.

Anafi UKR drone can be deployed in military or public safety missions 

Parrot Launches Flock of AI-Based Micro UAVs and an Autopilot

Company develops a minimum-integration launch system for its Hero-120 loitering munition

UVision Introduces Smart Launch for Loitering Munitions

The MQ-28A has been developed for the RAAF’s Collaborative Combat Aircraft program

Boeing’s Ghost Bat Readies for Interoperability Trials

Lockheed Martin’s Brussels-based Digital Engagement Center is helping military staff and industry identify new requirements to meet the swiftly changing threat environment in the 21st Century.

Lockheed Center in Brussels Bolsters European Defense Strategy

News and developments about airplanes, helicopters and unmanned air vehicles used in all varieties of operations, including airlines, military, business, commercial, general aviation and private.

Undisclosed logistics customer will operate 550-pound payload vehicle under an experimental license

Air’s Uncrewed Cargo eVTOL Conducts Night Flight Trials

Hanneke Weitering

News, issues, personnel, equipment and developments about air traffic management.

Paris Air Show 2025

In this article

Leonardo AW139

Honeywell

More In Unmanned Aerial Vehicles