During the test, Near Earth’s onboard autonomy software directly controlled key autopilot modes of Honeywell’s AW139 without pilot input. This demonstrated accurate flight control and autonomous decision-making, a major milestone for future military and civil applications.
“Not only is this successful demonstration a major step in creating brand new possibilities for the USMC, but it also creates a potential pathway for use by other helicopter operators as well,” said Bob Buddecke, president, Electronic Solutions, Honeywell Aerospace Technologies. “Together with Near Earth Autonomy and Leonardo, we’re showing how existing aircraft can be adapted with trusted avionics to support the next generation of defence logistics.”
The ALC programme, under a Naval Aviation Systems Consortium OTA with Near Earth Autonomy as the prime performer, is developing autonomous aerial logistics to reduce personnel risk and enhance operational speed and scale. Upcoming tests will broaden the autonomy features, including obstacle avoidance and workflow integration within military logistics systems.
“This flight showcases Near Earth Autonomy’s leadership in developing trusted autonomy for real-world operations,” said Dr Sanjiv Singh, CEO of Near Earth Autonomy. “By directly controlling the AW139’s flight modes with our autonomy system, we’ve shown that scalable autonomous logistics using existing platforms is not just possible — it’s happening now.”
Honeywell is working to deliver an autonomy solution that is affordable, scalable, and certifiable for future missions. Its mission-critical systems are designed for both retrofit and new aircraft, supporting today’s needs and the transition to uncrewed, highly autonomous flight.
