Honeywell and Near Earth Autonomy have successfully conducted the first autonomous test flight of a Leonardo AW139 helicopter, a key milestone for the U.S. Marine Corps’ Aerial Logistics Connector (ALC) program. This flight proves the viability of uncrewed, autonomous aircraft capable of operating independently in contested environments, without a pilot on board or remote operator involvement.
The flight, which took place in Phoenix, Arizona in May, marks significant progress toward delivering scalable autonomous logistics solutions for the USMC. For the first time, Near Earth’s onboard autonomy software directly controlled the AW139’s key autopilot modes, demonstrating precise autonomous flight and decision-making without human input.
The ALC program, managed through a Naval Aviation Systems Consortium OTA with Near Earth Autonomy as the lead contractor, aims to deploy autonomous aerial logistics capabilities that reduce personnel risk while accelerating supply operations. Upcoming tests will enhance autonomy functions, including automated obstacle avoidance and seamless integration into military logistics systems, providing a safe, fully autonomous delivery platform to improve operational agility.
Honeywell and Near Earth Autonomy are committed to developing an affordable, scalable, and certifiable autonomy solution for future missions, supporting both retrofitted and next-generation aircraft as the aviation sector advances toward fully autonomous operations.
