During the flight test event in Grand Prairie, Texas, the remote team used a Man-Packable Control System tablet integrated into the ground control system. Operators directed the aircraft through a series of autonomous behaviors before transferring control back to the primary ground control station.
“The latest flight test marks an important step toward delivering an autonomous logistics capability that gives Marines the flexibility to move critical supplies where they are needed most,” said Alex Veneziano, CEO of Airbus U.S. Space & Defense. “By demonstrating the ability to transfer control between geographically separated teams, we are showing how this technology can support Marines in challenging operational environments.”
The event was the program’s seventh flight test, conducted with Shield AI, L3Harris Technologies and Parry Labs. The team also demonstrated more precise autonomous takeoffs and landings, improved beyond-line-of-sight connectivity, and validated thermal-management changes designed to prepare the aircraft for high temperatures.
The Logistics Connector is an unmanned variant of the UH-72 Lakota platform being developed under the Aerial Logistics Connector Middle Tier of Acquisition Rapid Prototyping Program. Airbus is in the program’s third year, with aircraft prototypes intended for Marine Corps operational demonstrations and experiments.
Naval Air Systems Command awarded Airbus a Phase I Other Transaction Authority agreement through the Naval Aviation Systems Consortium in April 2024. The program is one of several Department of Defense efforts to support distributed logistics during conflicts with peer or near-peer adversaries.
