At the AUSA 2025 exhibition in Washington D.C., Airbus America introduced the MQ-72C Lakota Connector, a next-generation unmanned helicopter developed for tactical resupply and sustainment missions. Designed to enhance the U.S. military’s logistics capabilities while reducing operational risks, the platform represents a major leap toward autonomous battlefield support.
A New Era in Autonomous Logistics
Capable of fully autonomous or semi-autonomous operation, the MQ-72C is engineered for long-range supply missions in anti-access/area denial (A2/AD) and challenging terrain environments. Based on the proven H145/UH-72 Lakota platform, it features a cockpitless configuration and advanced AI-powered flight software. Airbus officials emphasize that the Lakota Connector provides a scalable, low-risk, and rapidly deployable solution for modern sustainment operations.
Built on the UH-72 Legacy
Derived from the combat-proven UH-72 Lakota airframe, the MQ-72C has been completely redesigned as an unmanned system. The removed cockpit space has been reconfigured into front and rear cargo bays, allowing the transport of ammunition, supplies, or critical payloads without exposing human pilots to risk.
Production is taking place at the existing UH-72 assembly line in Columbus, Mississippi, ensuring a reliable supply chain, simplified maintenance, and high operational availability.
Fully Autonomous Flight with Shield AI Integration
The program is part of the U.S. Navy’s Aerial Logistics Connector (ALC) initiative. Following integration with Shield AI’s Hivemind autonomy software, Airbus successfully completed its first fully autonomous flight in August 2025. During the test, the aircraft conducted takeoff, waypoint navigation, and landing entirely under software control. A second flight in September demonstrated the system’s ability to execute complex logistics routes, confirming its maturity for field operations.
The Backbone of Future Battlefield Sustainment
According to Airbus, the MQ-72C is not merely a prototype but a production-ready, cost-effective, and field-deployable solution. Its compatibility with existing infrastructure and modular design enable potential future variants for ISR or light strike missions as requirements evolve.
Developed for the U.S. Army and Marine Corps, the MQ-72C aligns with the Pentagon’s distributed operations and manned-unmanned teaming strategies. This autonomous logistics helicopter could become the backbone of future supply chains across contested and expeditionary environments.
