Black Hawk Fires Altius Strike Drones in Landmark Test
Altius-700M is a launched effects, carries a 33-pound warhead, offers 1.25 hours of endurance, and has a range of about 160 kilometers.
The US Army is experimenting with new capabilities for the H-60M Black Hawk by integrating next-gen unmanned systems.
Based on footage shared by Anduril Industries, the helicopter launched several Altius-700M launched effects, which autonomously struck both stationary and moving targets.
The test took place during Project Convergence Capstone 6 as part of a three-day flight campaign over the Mojave Desert at Fort Irwin, California.
The demo showed how the pairing could extend commanders’ reach by using autonomous drones to detect, track, and engage targets beyond the helicopter’s operating area.
Beyond flight operations, the exercise also validated the drones’ ability to operate in extreme temperatures.
“Another successful step towards fielding launched effects with army aviation, pushing sensing and weapons deeper into the fight without sending crews with them,” the company stated.
The next phase will pair the Altius-700M with a cavalry unit.
The Core System
The Altius-700 is designed to carry payloads for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance, signals intelligence, and electronic warfare missions.
Its strike variant, the Altius-700M, has a diameter of 7 inches (17.8 centimeters), carries a 33-pound (15-kilogram) warhead, offers 1.25 hours of endurance, and has a range of about 160 kilometers (99 miles).
The UH-60M Black Hawk, meanwhile, has a maximum speed of 160 knots (296 kilometers/185 miles per hour) and can operate at altitudes of up to 19,000 feet (5,791 meters).
It can carry an internal payload of 3,190 pounds (1,447 kilograms) and an external payload of approximately 9,000 pounds (4,082 kilograms).
The helicopter is powered by two General Electric T700-GE-701C/D turboshaft engines, each producing 1,900 horsepower.
Source: NextGen Defence
