Honeywell (NASDAQ: HON) and Near Earth Autonomy have successfully completed the first autonomous test flight of a Leonardo AW139 helicopter, marking a major milestone in support of the U.S. Marine Corps Aerial Logistics Connector (ALC) program. This flight demonstrates the feasibility of uncrewed, autonomous aircraft capable of operating in contested environments without an onboard pilot or remote operator.
The test flight on Honeywell’s AW139 took place in Phoenix, Arizona in May and marks a critical step in efforts to deliver scalable, autonomous logistics support to the United States Marine Corps (USMC). For the first time, key autopilot modes of the AW139 were controlled directly by Near Earth’s onboard autonomy software, without pilot input, showcasing precise flight control and autonomous decision-making.
“Not only is this successful demonstration a major step in creating brand new possibilities for the USMC, but it also creates a potential pathway for use by other helicopter operators as well,” said Bob Buddecke, president, Electronic Solutions, Honeywell Aerospace Technologies. “Together with Near Earth Autonomy and Leonardo, we’re showing how existing aircraft can be adapted with trusted avionics to support the next generation of defense logistics. Uncrewed aircraft will be vital in keeping service men and women as safe as possible in contested environments, and we are one step closer to realizing that vision.”
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Download free sample pages More informationThe ALC program, managed under a Naval Aviation Systems Consortium Other Transaction Agreement (OTA) with Near Earth Autonomy as a prime performer, aims to develop and deploy autonomous aerial logistics systems that reduce risk to personnel and increase the speed and scale of supply operations. Future testing will expand autonomy capabilities, including automated obstacle avoidance, and integration into military logistics workflows, resulting in a safer, uncrewed delivery system to help boost operational readiness and improve responsiveness in theatre.
“This flight showcases Near Earth Autonomy’s leadership in developing trusted autonomy for real-world operations,” said Dr. Sanjiv Singh, CEO of Near Earth Autonomy. “By directly controlling the AW139’s flight modes with our autonomy system, we’ve shown that scalable autonomous logistics using existing platforms is not just possible — it’s happening now. This capability is essential for reducing risk to military personnel and ensuring resilient supply chains in the field.”
Honeywell’s partnership with Near Earth Autonomy seeks to develop an autonomy solution that is affordable, scalable, and certifiable for future missions. Honeywell provides mission-critical systems engineered for both retrofit and next-generation aircraft. These solutions are built to meet today’s operational demands while supporting the long-term shift to uncrewed and highly autonomous flight.
