1st flight of AI-piloted Airbus H145 helicopter advances MQ-72C Lakota Connector for US Marines
Airbus US Space & Defense, working with Shield AI, has completed the first test flight of an H145 helicopter flown entirely by artificial intelligence.
Powered by Shield AI’s Hivemind autonomy system, the aircraft performed a full mission profile, including take-off, controlled flight, and landing, without human input.
The test marks a milestone in the development of the MQ-72C Lakota Connector, an unmanned variant of the US Army’s UH-72 Lakota being designed for the US Marine Corps’ Aerial Logistics Connector (ALC) programme.
The aim is to field an autonomous logistics aircraft that can operate in contested or communications-degraded environments where piloted flights may be too dangerous or impractical.
Giving the H145 an AI pilot
At the centre of the breakthrough was the Airbus H145, the latest model in the company’s four-tonne-class twin-engine helicopter range.
Known for its performance in high and hot operating conditions, the H145 is widely used by emergency services, law enforcement, and military operators worldwide.
With the successful integration of Hivemind, it also became a testbed for next-generation autonomy. The flight, conducted in Grand Prairie, Texas, showed how quickly the software can be integrated into complex platforms.
In this case, full integration of Hivemind with Airbus’s Helionix avionics suite was completed in under eight weeks.
“This isn’t about building a new drone, it’s about upgrading a proven, military-grade aircraft with software that enables it to think and fly on its own,” said Rob Geckle, CEO of Airbus US Space & Defense. “We’re opening up new mission possibilities for autonomous rotorcraft logistics in the toughest operational environments.”
AI-piloted helicopter lays the ground for US Marines MQ-72C
The ALC programme addresses a pressing challenge for military planners: how to sustain supply lines in highly distributed, contested battlespaces. The MQ-72C is being developed to meet that need, replacing the Lakota’s cockpit with cargo systems and an autonomous control stack.
Hivemind is designed to operate in GPS- and communications-denied conditions, using onboard AI to perceive and respond to terrain and airspace without remote pilots. That capability will be critical in future conflicts, where fast, low-profile resupply could prove decisive.
“The integration of Hivemind into the H145 is a clear demonstration of the flexibility and speed at which autonomy can be delivered,” said Gary Steele, CEO of Shield AI. “It reflects our shared mission focus with Airbus, creating practical, fieldable autonomy that solves real operational problems.”
Proving autonomy for military platforms
The MQ-72C programme is currently in its rapid prototyping phase under the US Navy’s Middle Tier Acquisition pathway, with further flight demonstrations planned.
The long-term ambition is to field a scalable, unmanned logistics fleet based on existing, proven airframes, not just for the Marine Corps, but potentially across other US services and allied nations.
With its modular design, Hivemind can also be ported to other rotorcraft or fixed-wing platforms, creating an autonomous mission network that isn’t tied to a single airframe. If successful, the MQ-72C could herald an era where proven helicopters routinely fly themselves into battle zones — without risking a crew.
