Airbus Unveils U145, an Autonomous, Unmanned Helicopter
With a platform based on its familiar H145 helicopter and with logistical, military, and civilian capabilities, Airbus is pointing to the next generation of unmanned aircraft technology. At the ILA Berlin 2026 air show, Airbus Helicopters unveiled one of the most intriguing aviation developments in recent years, the U145, an autonomous and unmanned version of the well-known H145 helicopter. The move comes as the industry increasingly shifts toward crewless flight systems while continuing to rely on proven aircraft platforms.
The U145 retains the mechanical and aerodynamic foundation of the H145, a twin-engine helicopter in widespread service around the world, but it makes a major change, the complete removal of the cockpit. Instead, the helicopter is equipped with an advanced array of sensors and artificial intelligence systems that enable fully autonomous operation. Eliminating the cockpit has created space for greater cargo volume, including a front-opening clamshell door, a folding loading platform, and a dedicated cargo floor. The aircraft interior is a single empty space ready to be filled with cargo, with no cockpit.
With a maximum takeoff weight of about 3.8 tons, Airbus is positioning the aircraft primarily as a logistics platform capable of transporting equipment to dangerous or hard-to-reach areas without risking human life. At the same time, the company says the operational potential is much broader. According to Airbus, the U145 is intended for a range of missions, disaster relief, medical evacuation, aerial firefighting, intelligence and reconnaissance missions, and even integration into advanced military formations that include drone swarms or the launch of airborne weapons systems. As part of this effort, the company is working with MBDA to develop capabilities for a drone mothership and the launch of aerial effects.
This is not Airbus’s first attempt in the field. It was preceded by the VSR700 program, which was based on the light Cabri G2 helicopter. In addition, in the United States the company is advancing the MQ-72C project, an autonomous version of the Lakota helicopter, in cooperation with companies such as Shield AI and L3Harris. According to Airbus Helicopters CEO Matthieu Louvet, the company aims to build a broad ecosystem of autonomous systems in Europe, through partnerships with leading companies in artificial intelligence and remote control. The first prototype is expected to fly by the end of 2026, with a safety pilot, and entry into operational service is planned for the beginning of the next decade.
