Army Black Hawk launches autonomous strike drones in landmark test

Overview

Updated Sep 4

An 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.

Voices

Curated perspectives — historical figures and your fellow readers.

Ever wondered what historical figures would say about today's headlines?

People Involved

Jason Wrigley

Director of Business Development for Army and Air Force Systems at Sikorsky

Leading Sikorsky's A-LE integration effort for the Black Hawk

Lt. Col. Jim Lawson

Product manager for aviation rockets and small guided munitions, US Army

Oversees LRPM acquisition for the Army

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.

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: September 3rd, 2026 · 1 week ago

Tap a bar to jump to that date

September 2026
Landmark test reported by defense media
Latest Report

Major defense outlets cover the Black Hawk-Altius test as a landmark in manned-unmanned teaming.
September 3rd, 2026
August 2026
Anduril releases Black Hawk A-LE footage
Statement

Anduril publishes video showing H-60M launching Altius-700 drones that autonomously strike ground targets.
August 31st, 2026
July 2026
Army validates production-standard LRPMs
Milestone

Army confirms first production-standard Long-Range Precision Munitions validated; clears path to full-rate manufacturing.
July 29th, 2026
Project Convergence Capstone 6 begins
Exercise

Three-day flight campaign over Mojave Desert at Fort Irwin, California, testing H-60M A-LE capabilities.
July 20th, 2026
February 2026
Apache rocket-launches Altius-700 at Yuma
Test

AH-64E Apache becomes first attack helicopter to launch an Altius-700 at Yuma Proving Ground.
February 24th, 2026
November 2025
Army announces intent to accelerate LRPM production
Policy

Army says it will accelerate production and delivery of long-range launched effects to operational formations in 2026.
November 2025

Scenarios

LRPM reaches operational fielding in 2027

Likely Resolves by End of 2027

Discussed by: US Army acquisition officials, Janes, defense industry analysts

The Army's validation of production-standard LRPMs at Project Convergence Capstone 6 clears the way for full-rate manufacturing and delivery to operational units. Lt. Col. Jim Lawson said the armed 700M is envisioned as a division-level asset. The next phase pairs the Altius-700M with a cavalry unit, testing how the weapon works in an operational formation rather than a test range. If the cavalry integration proceeds on schedule, the munition reaches fielded units in 2027 as planned.

Budget constraints delay or shrink the LRPM program

Possible Resolves by Q2 2027

Discussed by: Defense budget analysts, Congressional appropriations committees

The A-LE program competes with other Army aviation modernization priorities for funding. Congress could trim LRPM procurement in the next defense appropriations cycle, pushing the 2027 fielding date back or reducing the quantity purchased. The Army has committed to accelerated production, but budget pressure in future fiscal years could force a scale-back or a recompetition for the program.

Rival launched-effects systems displace Altius-700M

Unlikely Resolves by End of 2027

Discussed by: Defense analysts, Army acquisition officers

The Army has not publicly identified every launched effect flown at Project Convergence Capstone 6, and the Increment 1 system is designed as a modular, open-architecture capability. Rival systems could compete for the LRPM role in future procurement rounds. If a competing system demonstrates better performance, lower cost, or superior integration, Altius-700M could be replaced in later procurement increments.

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.