Airbus Helicopters has revealed plans to introduce the U145, an uncrewed version of its existing H145 helicopter.
The company aims to conduct a maiden flight, which will include a safety pilot, by the end of 2026. Entry into service is targeted for the start of the next decade.
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According to Airbus, the U145 will be based on the H145 airframe and will be developed as an autonomous, uncrewed system.
The aircraft will be fitted with a specialised sensor suite and artificial intelligence to enable fully autonomous operation.
Unlike the conventional H145, the U145 will not have a physical cockpit. Instead, it will be adapted for cargo operations, featuring an integrated nose door, a foldable loading table, and a specialised cargo floor.
The helicopter is being designed with a maximum take-off weight of 3,800kg, with the intention of serving both civil and military missions, such as high-volume cargo supply.
Airbus has indicated that the U145’s modular design will facilitate adaptation for missions including disaster management, firefighting, armed reconnaissance, surveillance, and acting as a drone mothership.
A full-scale mock-up of the new model is set to be showcased by the company during the ILA Berlin airshow, taking place from 10 to 14 June 2026.
Airbus Helicopters CEO Matthieu Louvot said: “With the U145, we are offering our customers an autonomous, uncrewed version of our H145 helicopter – combining the proven airframe, power and useful load of the H145 with the autonomy of a UAS.
“To develop the U145 and its capabilities as a multi-mission UAS, we will be teaming up with leading autonomous mission partners to further expand the UAS ecosystem in Europe.”
Airbus has more than 1,800 helicopters in the H145 family are in service worldwide, involved in military, parapublic, and civil operations, having accumulated more than 8.5 million flight hours.
The H145 is powered by two Safran Arriel 2E engines with full authority digital engine control. The company describes the helicopter as having a low acoustic footprint and low CO2 emissions compared to other models in its class.
