Airbus prepares for U145 first flight as customer interest builds

Airbus plans the first flight of its U145 uncrewed helicopter demonstrator during the opening two weeks of November 2026 at Donauwörth, Germany. Derived from the H145, the demonstrator will initially retain a safety pilot in the cockpit before moving to Marignane, France, for subsequent uncrewed trials. The concept is intended for missions including cargo transport and weapons delivery in contested environments, using an established helicopter platform as the basis for autonomous operation. Airbus displayed a full-size mock-up at the June ILA show and reported customer interest, but the upcoming flight remains a development milestone rather than an operational delivery or confirmed production order.