The Airbus U145 autonomous drone is expected to first fly with a safety pilot on board at the end of this year (Airbus)
BELFAST — Airbus has launched a new autonomous drone dubbed U145, based on the company’s H145 civil and military helicopter.
A full scale mock up of the uncrewed aircraft, designed primarily for cargo supply missions, will be on display at this week’s Berlin Air Show, said the manufacturer in a statement today.
The manufacturer added that a first flight with a safety pilot onboard is slated for the end of this year, with entry into service expected at the start of 2030.
Fitted with a “specialized” sensor suite and AI, the fully autonomous platform is the second crewed rotorcraft from the Airbus product line to be converted into a drone, behind the VSR700, evolved from the Cabri G2 light helicopter.
