WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senior Army aviation leaders expect the Improved Turbine Engine Program (ITEP) to reach full qualification by 2028, signaling a recovery for the project following years of delays and a narrow escape from cancellation. The timeline for service entry of the GE Aerospace T901-GE-900 engine, designed to repower UH-60 Black Hawk and AH-64 Apache helicopters, remains dependent on consistent funding and the completion of roughly 6,500 hours of testing.

The program's future was recently secured after Congress pushed back against an Army plan to sunset the initiative, instead providing $175 million in fiscal 2026 funding and $63 million in reconciliation money. Brig. Gen. David Phillips, deputy of Program Acquisition Executive for Maneuver Air, stated that this support allows the service to continue altitude and flight testing initiated last year. The engine is intended to replace heavier components, providing a 50 percent increase in horsepower and a 25 percent improvement in fuel efficiency.

To achieve full qualification, the ITEP must undergo 1,500 hours of ground testing and nearly 5,000 hours of full engine qualification testing. While the Army has not disclosed the total hours completed to date, officials confirmed that flight testing began last May with a Black Hawk and has since expanded to approximately 30 hours of various flight conditions.

Source: Breaking Defense
Associated URL: https://breakingdefense.com/2026/03/army-aiming-for-itep-to-reach-full-qualification-by-2028-senior-leaders-say/

FORT EUSTIS, Va. -- The U.S. Army has received its first UH-60MX, an upgraded UH-60M Black Hawk equipped with autonomous flight capabilities, marking a significant milestone in aviation modernization. Developed in collaboration with the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) and Sikorsky, the optionally piloted helicopter will now enter a rigorous testing phase. These evaluations will assess its ability to operate without onboard pilots and be controlled remotely by ground troops in complex mission scenarios.

The autonomy is enabled by the ALIAS program, which integrates a modular kit and Sikorsky’s MATRIX system, effectively acting as the aircraft’s “brain.” A key upgrade includes replacing mechanical controls with a fly-by-wire system, improving stability and enabling automated maneuvers, especially in low-visibility conditions. The technology is also expected to reduce pilot workload. This effort aligns with broader Army initiatives to integrate autonomy and AI across its fleet, alongside the development of Launched Effects drones, which will enhance reconnaissance, targeting, and multi-domain operations, with fielding planned by 2026.

Source: DefenseScoop
Associated URL: https://defensescoop.com/2026/03/20/army-receives-first-optionally-piloted-black-hawk-helicopter/
Author: Mikayla Easley 

FORT EUSTIS, Va. -- Sikorsky announced the flight testing and delivery of the U.S. Army’s experimental UH-60MX Black Hawk helicopter fully integrated with the company’s MATRIX autonomy suite.

The MX aircraft mirrors Sikorsky’s UH-60A fly-by-wire Optionally Piloted Black Hawk helicopter, which has been tested by Sikorsky and Army aviators. Sikorsky’s MATRIX autonomy kit has been installed on all three Army Black Hawk models, the 60A, 60L and 60M. The delivery to the U.S. Army is the first full authority fly-by-wire and optionally piloted UH-60 in the U.S. Army’s fleet.

The Army and Sikorsky worked collaboratively to install fly-by-wire flight controls to the MX aircraft and then integrate the MATRIX autonomy system in 2025. The Army Combat Capabilities Development Command will use the MX aircraft to test and evaluate autonomy capabilities.

Source: Lockheed Martin
Associated URL: https://news.lockheedmartin.com/2026-03-23-Sikorsky-Completes-Integration-of-MATRIX-Autonomy-Suite-on-U-S-Armys-UH-60MX-Black-Hawk-R-Helicopter