Airbus unveils the U145, an uncrewed H145 built for contested resupply
Airbus is turning its best-selling H145 light twin into a pilotless cargo helicopter for frontline resupply, with a maiden flight due late 2026 and service entry not before the early 2030s.
Airbus is turning its best-selling H145 light twin into a pilotless cargo helicopter for frontline resupply, with a maiden flight due late 2026 and service entry not before the early 2030s.
Airbus Helicopters introduced the U145, an uncrewed, AI-flown version of its H145 light twin, at the ILA Berlin airshow on Monday, where it displayed a full-scale mock-up, FlightGlobal wrote. The company set a maiden flight with a safety pilot for late 2026 and entry into service for the beginning of the next decade.
The U145 keeps the H145 airframe, its two Safran Arriel 2E engines and its useful load, and swaps the cockpit for a sensor suite and autonomy software, according to the company. The nose holds cargo fittings instead, a loading door with a foldable table and a dedicated cargo floor, at a maximum takeoff weight of 3,800 kg. Airbus is pitching it first for high-volume resupply, then for surveillance, firefighting, armed scouting and as a mothership for air-launched effects, the last with MBDA, AeroTime detailed.
The U145 is Airbus' second crewed-to-uncrewed conversion, after the naval VSR700, which is derived from the Cabri G2 light helicopter.
More than 1,800 H145-family aircraft are in service with over 8.5 million flight hours logged, a fleet Airbus says shortens certification and gives operators a maintenance chain from day one. Army Recognition tied the uncrewed design to the war in Ukraine, where long-range fires, drones and electronic warfare have exposed supply routes and raised the risk to transport crews, a band an uncrewed lifter can run with no one aboard.
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Subscribe Free →Sikorsky has moved first, AeroTime noted, flying an autonomous U-Hawk Black Hawk and delivering an optionally piloted UH-60MX to the US Army. Airbus is running the same play in the United States, offering the Marine Corps the autonomous MQ-72C, a version of the H145-derived UH-72B Lakota, with Shield AI, L3Harris and Parry Lab.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Airbus U145?
Airbus Helicopters introduced it at ILA Berlin on 8 June 2026 as an uncrewed, autonomous version of the H145 light twin, per the company and FlightGlobal. It drops the cockpit for a sensor suite and artificial intelligence, with a maximum takeoff weight of 3,800 kg.
When will it fly and enter service?
Airbus said a maiden flight with a safety pilot on board is planned for late 2026, with entry into service at the beginning of the next decade, per the press release and AeroTime.
What missions is it designed for?
Primarily high-volume cargo resupply, Airbus said, with a modular design that can extend to surveillance, firefighting, armed scouting, crewed-uncrewed teaming and use as a mothership for air-launched effects developed with MBDA, according to Defence Industry Europe.
How is it different from a standard H145?
It has no physical cockpit and adds cargo fittings, a nose loading door with a foldable table and a dedicated cargo floor, while keeping the H145 airframe and two Safran Arriel 2E engines, according to Airbus and RotorHub International.
Why does an uncrewed cargo helicopter matter on the battlefield?
Army Recognition noted that the war in Ukraine has exposed supply routes to long-range fires, drones and electronic warfare, so an uncrewed lifter can resupply forward positions without putting aircrew at risk.
Is Airbus alone in this?
No. AeroTime reported that Sikorsky is flying an autonomous U-Hawk Black Hawk and has delivered an optionally piloted UH-60MX to the US Army. Airbus is also offering the autonomous MQ-72C, based on the H145-derived UH-72B Lakota, to the US Marine Corps, per the company.
AI-generated summary, reviewed by an editor. More on our AI guidelines.
Marcus Schuler
Marcus Schuler edits BattlePolicy, a daily defense-technology brief connecting the companies and capabilities behind modern war to the contest among Europe, the US, Russia, and China.