Anchor
Army Black Hawk launches autonomous strike drones in landmark test
New CapabilitiesH-60M crews now command weaponized Altius-700M drones that find and strike targets up to 160 kilometers away
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Overview
Updated 57 minutes agoAn H-60M Black Hawk helicopter launched several weaponized Altius-700M drones during Project Convergence Capstone 6, and the drones autonomously located and struck their targets without the crew guiding them onto the objective. Anduril released footage of the flight on August 31, showing the helicopters deploying the drones from external pylons over California's Mojave Desert.
The capability turns a utility helicopter into a control node for autonomous drones with a range of about 160 kilometers (100 miles) and a 33-pound warhead. That is a structural shift from the AGM-114 Hellfire, which forces a helicopter to close to roughly 11 kilometers of its target before firing. The Army validated the first production-standard versions of the munition at the exercise and expects operational fielding in 2027.
Why it matters
The Army can now push sensors and strike weapons far beyond a helicopter's line-of-sight range, keeping crews outside the threat envelope while autonomous drones do the dangerous work.
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Key Indicators
160 km
Altius-700M published range
The weaponized launched effect can reach about 100 miles from the launch point.
33 lb
Altius-700M warhead weight
The kinetic variant carries a warhead of up to 33 pounds (15 kilograms) for strikes against vehicles, vessels, and infrastructure.
11 km
AGM-114 Hellfire max range
The standard helicopter-launched missile requires the aircraft to close to roughly seven miles of its target, the gap A-LE aims to close.
75 min
Altius-700M endurance
The loitering munition can stay airborne for about 75 minutes per mission.
2027
Expected operational fielding
The Army expects the LRPM to reach operational units in 2027 after production validation at Project Convergence Capstone 6.
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People Involved
Organizations Involved
Anduril Industries
Defense technology company
Manufacturer of the Altius-700 and Altius-700M launched effects
Anduril builds the Altius family of tube-launched drones that carry ISR, electronic-warfare, or strike payloads.
UH
Utility Helicopters Project Office (UHPO)
Army acquisition office
Co-developer of the Increment 1 A-LE capability
The UHPO partnered with DEVCOM Aviation and Missile Center to develop the government-owned Increment 1 A-LE system.
Sikorsky
Aerospace manufacturer
Black Hawk manufacturer integrating A-LE capabilities
Sikorsky makes the H-60M Black Hawk and is positioning it as a drone-control node for future multi-domain operations.
Timeline
November 2025 September 2026
6 events
Latest: Yesterday
Tap a bar to jump to that date
-
Landmark test reported by defense media
Latest ReportMajor defense outlets cover the Black Hawk-Altius test as a landmark in manned-unmanned teaming.
-
Anduril releases Black Hawk A-LE footage
StatementAnduril publishes video showing H-60M launching Altius-700 drones that autonomously strike ground targets.
-
Army validates production-standard LRPMs
MilestoneArmy confirms first production-standard Long-Range Precision Munitions validated; clears path to full-rate manufacturing.
-
Project Convergence Capstone 6 begins
ExerciseThree-day flight campaign over Mojave Desert at Fort Irwin, California, testing H-60M A-LE capabilities.
-
Apache rocket-launches Altius-700 at Yuma
TestAH-64E Apache becomes first attack helicopter to launch an Altius-700 at Yuma Proving Ground.
-
Army announces intent to accelerate LRPM production
PolicyArmy says it will accelerate production and delivery of long-range launched effects to operational formations in 2026.
Historical Context
2 moments from history that rhyme with this story — and how they unfolded.
1984-1990s
AGM-114 Hellfire deployment on Apache helicopters (1984-1990s)
The Hellfire missile gave the AH-64 Apache its anti-armor punch, with a range of roughly 8 kilometers in early versions. Helicopter crews had to acquire targets directly or via laser designation from another platform.
Then
The Hellfire made the Apache the Army's premier anti-tank helicopter, but required crews to operate within the range of enemy air defenses.
Now
The Hellfire's range limitation became a vulnerability as air defense systems improved, creating pressure for stand-off weapons like the LRPM.
Why this matters now
The Altius-700M directly addresses the Hellfire's key weakness: the requirement to close to within 11 kilometers of a target. The launched effect extends reach to roughly 160 kilometers, keeping helicopter crews out of the threat envelope.
1995-2001
MQ-1 Predator evolution from surveillance to strike (1995-2001)
The MQ-1 Predator entered service in 1995 as an unarmed reconnaissance drone. By February 2001, the Air Force armed it with Hellfire missiles, turning a surveillance platform into a strike aircraft flown remotely from ground stations.
Then
The armed Predator gave commanders a persistent strike capability that could loiter over targets for hours without risking crewed aircraft.
Now
Established the precedent for uncrewed platforms carrying weapons, reshaping how militaries conduct surveillance and strike operations.
Why this matters now
The Black Hawk-Altius pairing follows the same pattern: taking a platform built for one role and arming its uncrewed companions. But where the Predator was a ground-controlled drone, the Altius-700M is launched from a helicopter and operates semi-autonomously, reducing the crew's workload and keeping the helicopter itself outside the engagement zone.