Airbus Helicopters has unveiled a concept for an uncrewed variant of its widely used H145 helicopter, designated U145. The company says the platform is intended for logistics, reconnaissance and disaster‑response roles, and can also serve as a carrier and launcher for unmanned aerial systems.
Design highlights
Published images and briefing materials show the U145 is clearly based on the production H145. The original side doors are retained, but the cockpit has been completely reworked: the pilot seats are replaced by an access door fitted with a fold‑down ramp, and the cargo compartment is arranged to carry up to 1,200 kilograms of payload. Airbus describes the U145 as capable of fully autonomous operation supported by artificial intelligence; in the demonstration video a ground operator starts the engines from an external side panel and then confirms flight readiness on a touchscreen.
The drone‑carrier concept is particularly notable. Airbus is developing similar capabilities for the A400M transport aircraft, which suggests the company views launching drones from larger air platforms as a strategic direction.
Timeline and expected introduction
Airbus says a full‑scale mock‑up of the U145 will be shown at the 2026 ILA Berlin air show. The first flight, conducted with a safety pilot on board, is planned for late 2026. Operational service entry is not expected until the early 2030s.
How it compares to other projects
The U145 concept bears a clear resemblance to Sikorsky’s U‑Hawk (S‑70 UAS) system, unveiled at the end of 2025, which converts the UH‑60 Black Hawk into an unmanned asset. Sikorsky also uses a ramp access solution in place of a conventional cockpit, and highlights the potential to convert existing helicopters in service. Airbus has not explicitly stated a retrofit path for existing H145s in the U145 announcement, but the approaches are similar in several respects.
It is also worth noting that the H145 is operated by several nations, including Ukraine.
Significance
The U145 announcement signals that European rotorcraft manufacturers are investing in uncrewed rotorcraft capabilities, with a particular focus on cargo carriage and drone deployment. If the proposed schedule is met — mock‑up at ILA 2026, piloted test flight late 2026, and entry into service in the early 2030s — the platform could change how logistics, reconnaissance and drone‑enabled operations are conducted.
Tags: drone, artificial intelligence, helicopter, military technology, logistics, Airbus Helicopters
Sources
This article is based on Airbus Helicopters’ announcement and published materials, with comparison to Sikorsky’s U‑Hawk (S‑70 UAS) revealed at the end of 2025.
