Aviation News – Airbus Helicopters is officially developing a domestically-produced autonomous uncrewed version of its H145M light-twin rotorcraft to meet the shifting demands of the European defense market. The project represents a strategic pivot toward unmanned vertical lift, with the manufacturer expected to reveal comprehensive technical details and a public demonstrator later this year.
Building on the success of the VSR700 uncrewed aerial system (UAS), the new project adapts the battle-proven H145M airframe into a pilotless platform. While Airbus is already collaborating with Shield AI on a similar MQ-72C variant for the US Marine Corps, this new initiative focuses specifically on the requirements of European customers. The project gained momentum following a record-breaking year for the H145 family, including a massive 82-unit order from Germany and 50 units for Spain in 2025.
The uncrewed H145M will leverage the integrated Helionix avionics suite to simplify the transition to autonomous flight-control systems. This technical commonality allows the aircraft to serve as a high-capacity logistics connector, a carrier for advanced sensor payloads, or a mother ship for air-launched effects (drones launched from the helicopter). By utilizing a standard airframe, Airbus ensures that operators can benefit from a ready-made spares pool and existing maintenance infrastructure, significantly lowering the total cost of ownership compared to clean-sheet autonomous designs.
