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FlightGlobal • Ryan Finnerty

Airbus advances autonomous rotorcraft testing with MQ-72C and an MQ-72/H145 autonomy stack for U.S. Marine logistics

Airbus Helicopters’ U.S. defense arm has completed a fourth autonomous flight test on the H145, integrating partner tech from Shield AI, L3Harris and Parry Labs into a single aircraft for the first time, including autonomy and edge computing. The company is simultaneously progressing its MQ-72 autonomous cargo rotorcraft test campaign with a fourth test flight.

2026-04-15T09:53:32.849911-07:00

The War Zone

Army revives “Cheyenne” name for MV-75 tiltrotor as program enters its most ambitious phase

2026-04-15T07:35:36.436499-07:00

Lockheed Martin

Sikorsky readies “Armed Black Hawk” factory armament kits to turn UH-60s into multi-mission platforms

2026-04-15T05:08:04.934280-07:00

Reuters

UK MoD awards Boeing Defence UK £879m Apache and Chinook support contract under Rotary Wing Enterprise

2026-04-15T04:09:06.279147-07:00

News Timeline

The War Zone

Boeing pitches optionally crewed CH-47 Chinook concept and air-launching drone swarms Boeing is identifying growing interest in an optionally crewed CH-47 Chinook configuration, positioning the type as a launch platform for drone swarms. The concept ties crewed helicopter flexibility to scalable uncrewed strike/sensing options—designed to expand mission reach without fully ceding control to autonomy.

2026-04-15T11:35:11.644276-07:00

Boeing pitches optionally crewed CH-47 Chinook concept and air-launching drone swarms

FlightGlobal

Airbus advances autonomous rotorcraft testing with MQ-72C and an MQ-72/H145 autonomy stack for U.S. Marine logistics Airbus Helicopters’ U.S. defense arm has completed a fourth autonomous flight test on the H145, integrating partner tech from Shield AI, L3Harris and Parry Labs into a single aircraft for the first time, including autonomy and edge computing. The company is simultaneously progressing its MQ-72 autonomous cargo rotorcraft test campaign with a fourth test flight.

2026-04-15T09:53:32.849911-07:00

Airbus advances autonomous rotorcraft testing with MQ-72C and an MQ-72/H145 autonomy stack for U.S. Marine logistics

The War Zone

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Army revives “Cheyenne” name for MV-75 tiltrotor as program enters its most ambitious phase The U.S. Army has named its MV-75 Future Long Range Assault Aircraft (FLRAA) tiltrotor “Cheyenne II,” bringing back the “Cheyenne” moniker first used on a failed attack-helicopter effort. The designation signals escalation for the service’s most ambitious rotorcraft program.

2026-04-15T07:35:36.436499-07:00

Army revives “Cheyenne” name for MV-75 tiltrotor as program enters its most ambitious phase

FlightGlobal

GE Aerospace says US Army’s T901 Improved Turbine Engine work continues amid UH-60M Black Hawk powerplant upgrade flight testing Senior Army officials in 2025 indicated they would not proceed with the T901 Improved Turbine Engine, but GE Aerospace says the program is still active, with flight testing and development continuing. The Army is also persisting with a new powerplant effort for Sikorsky’s UH-60M Black Hawk medium-lift helicopter, despite prior signals of delays.

2026-04-15T06:23:51.328731-07:00

GE Aerospace says US Army’s T901 Improved Turbine Engine work continues amid UH-60M Black Hawk powerplant upgrade flight testing

Lockheed Martin

Sikorsky readies “Armed Black Hawk” factory armament kits to turn UH-60s into multi-mission platforms Sikorsky says it is now offering production-ready, modular “Armed BLACK HAWK” kits for UH-60 Black Hawk operators to configure a common airframe for transport and armed roles. The kits include modular wing capability aimed at close air support/precision strike missions, as well as other armed mission needs.

2026-04-15T05:08:04.934280-07:00

Sikorsky readies “Armed Black Hawk” factory armament kits to turn UH-60s into multi-mission platforms

Reuters

UK MoD awards Boeing Defence UK £879m Apache and Chinook support contract under Rotary Wing Enterprise Boeing Defence UK has won a three-year Rotary Wing Enterprise (RWE) in-service support contract for the UK’s AH-64E Apache and CH-47 Chinook fleets worth £879 million (about $1.2 billion). The agreement is aimed at sustaining operational availability, streamlining maintenance under a single framework, and supporting 1,000-plus jobs in the UK.

2026-04-15T04:09:06.279147-07:00

UK MoD awards Boeing Defence UK £879m Apache and Chinook support contract under Rotary Wing Enterprise

Air & Space Forces Mag

U.S. blockade of Iran underpins maritime surveillance with 100+ aircraft, helicopters, fighters and scalable force presence Reporting outlines how the U.S. naval blockade effort against Iran is supported by large-scale airpower to surveil the seas and protect maritime assets. The operation is described as relying on warships and a mix of helicopters, jet fighters, and other combat-capable forces to enforce access control, including potential boarding support from aircraft.

2026-04-14T18:34:49.157520-07:00

U.S. blockade of Iran underpins maritime surveillance with 100+ aircraft, helicopters, fighters and scalable force presence

FlightGlobal

NHV Group leases and integrates factory-new Airbus H160 medium-twin helicopters to modernize its offshore support fleet NHV Group has introduced factory-new Airbus H160 helicopters into its fleet, leased from GD Helicopter Finance (GDHF), to bolster support for oil, gas and offshore wind operations across Europe. The move is positioned as part of NHV’s offshore fleet modernisation strategy as demand grows for next-generation rotorcraft.

2026-04-14T06:53:36.081577-07:00

NHV Group leases and integrates factory-new Airbus H160 medium-twin helicopters to modernize its offshore support fleet

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Helicopter News

Airbus advances autonomous rotorcraft testing with MQ-72C and an MQ-72/H145 autonomy stack for U.S. Marine logistics

Army revives “Cheyenne” name for MV-75 tiltrotor as program enters its most ambitious phase

Sikorsky readies “Armed Black Hawk” factory armament kits to turn UH-60s into multi-mission platforms

UK MoD awards Boeing Defence UK £879m Apache and Chinook support contract under Rotary Wing Enterprise

News Timeline