Airbus MQ72C Lakota Connector unmanned helicopter could change how U.S. military delivers logistic
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At AUSA 2025 in Washington D.C., Airbus America revealed the MQ72C Lakota Connector, a new autonomous helicopter built for tactical resupply and sustainment missions. The aircraft aims to modernize US military logistics by reducing risk and increasing operational reach in contested and remote environments.
Washington D.C., United States, October 20, 2025 – During the Association of the United States Army annual meeting held October 13 to 15 in Washington D.C., Airbus America introduced the MQ72C Lakota Connector, an unmanned helicopter developed to carry critical supplies where manned aircraft cannot. Designed for autonomous and semi-autonomous operation, the MQ72C provides a flexible option for long-range resupply missions in anti-access and austere settings. Airbus officials said the aircraft delivers a low-risk and scalable solution that aligns with the Army’s push for greater autonomy in future sustainment operations.Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link
The Airbus MQ-72C Lakota Connector is a next-generation unmanned helicopter designed for autonomous aerial logistics in contested environments. Based on the proven H145/UH-72 platform, it features expanded cargo capacity, no cockpit, and advanced autonomy software, offering the U.S. military a scalable solution for long-range sustainment in expeditionary operations. (Picture source: Airbus and Army Recognition Group)
The MQ-72C builds upon the airframe lineage of the UH-72 Lakota, a platform already fielded in large numbers by the U.S. Army and National Guard. Based on the H145 light twin helicopter, the MQ-72C has been completely redesigned as an unmanned system with no cockpit. The space normally occupied by crew and avionics has been reconfigured into forward and rear cargo compartments, both equipped with manually operated doors. This enables the aircraft to carry essential supplies, containers, and ordnance with increased payload volume and without risking human pilots in dangerous areas of operation.
What distinguishes the MQ-72C from other emerging unmanned vertical lift systems is its immediate maturity and readiness for prototyping. Airbus emphasized that the aircraft is being developed on the same U.S. production line in Columbus, Mississippi, that has delivered nearly 500 Lakota helicopters on time and within budget. This ensures a robust supply chain, streamlined logistics, and high operational availability, which are key factors for rapid fielding and sustainment in military theaters.
In terms of performance, the MQ-72C is optimized for operationally relevant ranges and high-speed transport of logistics payloads. It can operate independently in denied communications environments thanks to its integration with advanced autonomous flight software. Airbus describes it as a “risk-worthy” platform, affordable enough to be fielded in numbers, yet capable enough to deliver essential sustainment in hostile or degraded conditions where traditional manned resupply aircraft would be too vulnerable.
Development of the MQ-72C is closely tied to a broader U.S. military push to advance autonomous logistics capabilities. In May 2024, Airbus U.S. Space & Defense was awarded a Phase I Other Transactional Authority (OTA) agreement by the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR), through the Naval Aviation Systems Consortium, to support the United States Marine Corps Aerial Logistics Connector (ALC) initiative. This contract falls under the Middle Tier of Acquisition (MTA) Rapid Prototyping framework and is intended to deliver fully operational prototypes for real-world experimentation with Marine units.
In support of the ALC program, Airbus achieved a critical milestone on August 19, 2025, with the successful completion of its first autonomous helicopter test flight using Shield AI’s Hivemind autonomy package. Conducted in Grand Prairie, Texas, the test employed an H145 helicopter to validate the software integration. Within just two months, the modular and platform-agnostic Hivemind system was installed and successfully directed the aircraft through a series of autonomous maneuvers, including takeoff, waypoint navigation, and landing, all without pilot input. The software operated in concert with Airbus’ Helionix avionics, marking a seamless integration between flight control and mission autonomy.
A second test flight, held in September 2025 and publicly released on October 7, marked another major advancement. Airbus, in partnership with Shield AI, L3Harris, and Parry Labs, demonstrated enhanced waypoint navigation capability, an essential requirement for autonomous logistics missions. Footage released by Team Lakota Connector showcased the aircraft’s ability to execute complex flight paths and cargo mission profiles autonomously, reinforcing the platform’s potential as a key enabler of the USMC’s distributed operations strategy.
Airbus maintains that the MQ-72C Lakota Connector is not just an experimental platform, but a production-capable solution aligned with the Department of Defense’s push for rapid acquisition of unmanned systems. Its adaptability, high readiness rate, and compatibility with existing infrastructure give it a head start over other concepts still in early development. While not armed, future variants may support intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance roles, or even light strike capabilities depending on evolving mission needs.
With the MQ-72C, Airbus America is staking its position in the emerging autonomous logistics sector, one that is rapidly gaining traction across the Pentagon and combatant commands. As the U.S. Army and Marine Corps pivot toward dispersed operations, resilient supply chains, and manned-unmanned teaming, platforms like the MQ-72C will likely form the backbone of next-generation battlefield support.
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At AUSA 2025 in Washington D.C., Airbus America revealed the MQ72C Lakota Connector, a new autonomous helicopter built for tactical resupply and sustainment missions. The aircraft aims to modernize US military logistics by reducing risk and increasing operational reach in contested and remote environments.
Washington D.C., United States, October 20, 2025 – During the Association of the United States Army annual meeting held October 13 to 15 in Washington D.C., Airbus America introduced the MQ72C Lakota Connector, an unmanned helicopter developed to carry critical supplies where manned aircraft cannot. Designed for autonomous and semi-autonomous operation, the MQ72C provides a flexible option for long-range resupply missions in anti-access and austere settings. Airbus officials said the aircraft delivers a low-risk and scalable solution that aligns with the Army’s push for greater autonomy in future sustainment operations.
Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link
The Airbus MQ-72C Lakota Connector is a next-generation unmanned helicopter designed for autonomous aerial logistics in contested environments. Based on the proven H145/UH-72 platform, it features expanded cargo capacity, no cockpit, and advanced autonomy software, offering the U.S. military a scalable solution for long-range sustainment in expeditionary operations. (Picture source: Airbus and Army Recognition Group)
The MQ-72C builds upon the airframe lineage of the UH-72 Lakota, a platform already fielded in large numbers by the U.S. Army and National Guard. Based on the H145 light twin helicopter, the MQ-72C has been completely redesigned as an unmanned system with no cockpit. The space normally occupied by crew and avionics has been reconfigured into forward and rear cargo compartments, both equipped with manually operated doors. This enables the aircraft to carry essential supplies, containers, and ordnance with increased payload volume and without risking human pilots in dangerous areas of operation.
What distinguishes the MQ-72C from other emerging unmanned vertical lift systems is its immediate maturity and readiness for prototyping. Airbus emphasized that the aircraft is being developed on the same U.S. production line in Columbus, Mississippi, that has delivered nearly 500 Lakota helicopters on time and within budget. This ensures a robust supply chain, streamlined logistics, and high operational availability, which are key factors for rapid fielding and sustainment in military theaters.
In terms of performance, the MQ-72C is optimized for operationally relevant ranges and high-speed transport of logistics payloads. It can operate independently in denied communications environments thanks to its integration with advanced autonomous flight software. Airbus describes it as a “risk-worthy” platform, affordable enough to be fielded in numbers, yet capable enough to deliver essential sustainment in hostile or degraded conditions where traditional manned resupply aircraft would be too vulnerable.
Development of the MQ-72C is closely tied to a broader U.S. military push to advance autonomous logistics capabilities. In May 2024, Airbus U.S. Space & Defense was awarded a Phase I Other Transactional Authority (OTA) agreement by the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR), through the Naval Aviation Systems Consortium, to support the United States Marine Corps Aerial Logistics Connector (ALC) initiative. This contract falls under the Middle Tier of Acquisition (MTA) Rapid Prototyping framework and is intended to deliver fully operational prototypes for real-world experimentation with Marine units.
In support of the ALC program, Airbus achieved a critical milestone on August 19, 2025, with the successful completion of its first autonomous helicopter test flight using Shield AI’s Hivemind autonomy package. Conducted in Grand Prairie, Texas, the test employed an H145 helicopter to validate the software integration. Within just two months, the modular and platform-agnostic Hivemind system was installed and successfully directed the aircraft through a series of autonomous maneuvers, including takeoff, waypoint navigation, and landing, all without pilot input. The software operated in concert with Airbus’ Helionix avionics, marking a seamless integration between flight control and mission autonomy.
A second test flight, held in September 2025 and publicly released on October 7, marked another major advancement. Airbus, in partnership with Shield AI, L3Harris, and Parry Labs, demonstrated enhanced waypoint navigation capability, an essential requirement for autonomous logistics missions. Footage released by Team Lakota Connector showcased the aircraft’s ability to execute complex flight paths and cargo mission profiles autonomously, reinforcing the platform’s potential as a key enabler of the USMC’s distributed operations strategy.
Airbus maintains that the MQ-72C Lakota Connector is not just an experimental platform, but a production-capable solution aligned with the Department of Defense’s push for rapid acquisition of unmanned systems. Its adaptability, high readiness rate, and compatibility with existing infrastructure give it a head start over other concepts still in early development. While not armed, future variants may support intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance roles, or even light strike capabilities depending on evolving mission needs.
With the MQ-72C, Airbus America is staking its position in the emerging autonomous logistics sector, one that is rapidly gaining traction across the Pentagon and combatant commands. As the U.S. Army and Marine Corps pivot toward dispersed operations, resilient supply chains, and manned-unmanned teaming, platforms like the MQ-72C will likely form the backbone of next-generation battlefield support.