Airbus's helicopter division has unveiled an unmanned variant of its H145 model, named 'U145', at the ILA Berlin Air Show. At Germany's largest aerospace fair, the company showcased a full-scale model of this new aircraft.
As the company explained in a statement released this Monday, this pilotless helicopter will strengthen its catalog of helicopters and unmanned aerial systems (UAS) - drones.
Airbus's plan foresees the first flight, with a safety pilot on board, taking place at the end of 2026 and the model entering operation at the beginning of the next decade.
Second helicopter converted to unmanned version
The CEO of Airbus Helicopters, Matthieu Louvot, stated that with the 'U145', they "offer their customers an autonomous and unmanned version of the H145 helicopter, which combines the proven fuselage, power, and payload of the H145 with the autonomy of a UAS." "To develop the 'U145' and its capabilities as a multi-mission UAS, we will collaborate with leading partners in autonomous missions to further expand the UAS ecosystem in Europe," he added.
The 'H145' thus becomes the second manned helicopter that Airbus is transforming into an unmanned platform, after the 'VSR700', based on the 'Cabri G2'. The company details that the 'U145' will integrate a specific sensor package and artificial intelligence capabilities to achieve full autonomy.
Compared to the manned version of the H145, the 'U145' dispenses with a physical cockpit and incorporates modifications designed for cargo transport, such as an integrated front door with a folding cargo table and a dedicated cargo floor. With a maximum take-off weight (MTOW) of 3,800 kilograms, it is being designed as a mission-independent platform, suitable for civilian and military uses, especially oriented towards the supply of large-volume cargo.
"Its modular design allows for expansion to functions such as disaster management, firefighting, armed reconnaissance, surveillance, or mothership functionality for drones for aerial launch of effects, where Airbus collaborates with the company MBDA, as well as collaboration between manned and unmanned," he recounted.
In the US market, Airbus recalls that its space and defense division, along with its partners Shield AI, L3 Harris, and Parry Lab, provides the country's Marine Corps with a specific development, the 'MQ-72C', an autonomous variant of the proven 'Lakota UH-72B', adapted to its concrete requirements.
"In total, there are more than 1,800 helicopters of the H145 family in service for military, parapublic, and civilian missions, with a total of more than 8.5 million flight hours," the company has detailed. The 'H145' mounts two Safran Arriel 2E engines and features a full authority digital engine control (FADEC) system.
Furthermore, its "especially low" acoustic footprint makes the 'H145' the "quietest helicopter in its class," while its carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions are the lowest among models in its segment.