MQ-72C Cargo Helicopter Drone Capabilities Demonstrated For U.S. Army

An Airbus-led industry team demonstrated MQ-72C autonomous helicopter functions during five flights near Huntsville, Alabama, for United States Army observers. The demonstrator is based on the UH-72 Lakota family and incorporates Shield AI's Hivemind autonomy software, alongside contributions from L3Harris and Parry Labs. Missions included automated hovering, flight patterns, route changes around newly designated restricted areas and remote instructions transmitted over a long-distance communications link, while a safety pilot remained aboard. The flights were demonstrations of emerging logistics aviation capabilities, not evidence that the Army has ordered a crewless operational MQ-72C fleet.