Near Earth Autonomy, selected by the USMC to lead a team demonstrating optimised logistics via rotorcraft, will collaborate with Honeywell through an Other Transaction Agreement (OTA) under the Naval Aviation Systems Consortium (NASC). Together with Leonardo Helicopters, they will utilise the Leonardo AW139 helicopter to showcase uncrewed rotorcraft capabilities designed for challenging environments.
This partnership underscores Honeywell’s commitment to advancing autonomous flight, aligning with three key industry megatrends: the future of aviation, automation, and the energy transition. Matt Milas, President of Defense & Space at Honeywell Aerospace Technologies, emphasised the importance of this development, stating, “Uncrewed aircraft are a vital means of keeping service men and women out of harm’s way in contested environments. But they must also be advanced enough to reliably and efficiently perform their missions, even in GPS-denied environments.”
The ALC program will leverage the expertise of all three companies to deliver advanced autonomy solutions for logistics and casualty evacuation missions. This uncrewed logistics system aims to support the USMC in complex environments, with the operational deployment of autonomous aircraft targeted by 2030. Honeywell and Near Earth plan to accelerate these deployments, delivering scalable solutions in the near term.
Sanjiv Singh, CEO of Near Earth, expressed excitement about the collaboration, stating, “The ALC program is focused on achieving assured autonomy on an unprecedented scale. We are excited to partner with Honeywell, a leader in avionics and flight control, to create a comprehensive system for aerial logistics that can rapidly be put into commonplace use.”
Scott Volkert, Director of USMC Programs for Leonardo Helicopters, added, “Leonardo Helicopters is excited to introduce the USMC to the world-class AW139 helicopter for this next-generation FVL mission.” This collaboration with Honeywell and Near Earth also allows Honeywell to explore further opportunities for rotorcraft and uncrewed aerial systems (UAS) beyond the USMC initiative.
Source: Honeywell.
