Airbus U145

The Airbus U145 is an uncrewed, autonomous conversion of the H145 light-twin helicopter, designed to fly high-volume cargo into contested areas without aircrew aboard.

Overview

The Airbus U145 is an uncrewed rotorcraft derived from the H145 light twin-engine helicopter, unveiled by Airbus Helicopters on 8 June 2026 ahead of the ILA Berlin airshow, where the company displayed a full-scale mock-up. As described by Airbus, it keeps the proven H145 airframe, engines and useful load but deletes the cockpit, substituting a dedicated sensor suite and artificial intelligence for full autonomy. Airbus is pitching it primarily for high-volume cargo resupply, with secondary roles spanning surveillance, firefighting, armed scouting and use as a "drone mothership."

The U145 is a development-stage product, not a fielded system. No aircraft has flown, no operator has been announced, and Airbus has said it is not tied to any specific national or European acquisition, according to a company spokesperson quoted by The War Zone. It matters as an entry in an increasingly crowded field of large uncrewed cargo helicopters, and as a European bet that autonomous rotorcraft can take on the resupply and high-risk logistics missions that manned helicopters can no longer safely fly on a modern battlefield.

🔒 The full Airbus U145 file is for BattlePolicy Pro members. Below the line: development history, design and capabilities, variants, the combat record, advantages and limitations, comparable systems, outlook, the full specifications table, our sourcing, and the analyst assessment — procurement, suppliers and the BattlePolicy verdict. Unlock the full file with BattlePolicy Pro →