Skyryse, U.S. Army Partner to Make Helicopters More Capable, Easier to Fly and Optionally Piloted

Skyryse®, the creator of SkyOS™, the world’s first universal operating system for flight, has entered into an agreement with the U.S. Army to develop solutions to reduce time to train for pilots, increase interoperability between aircraft, and deliver optionally piloted capability which could be applied to their fleet of 2,400 Black Hawk helicopters, among others.

Rendering of Black Hawk helicopter cockpit powered by Skyryse’s SkyOS universal flight operating system.

Rendering of Black Hawk helicopter cockpit powered by Skyryse’s SkyOS universal flight operating system.

This collaboration aims to explore and integrate SkyOS to enhance the safety, simplicity, and operational efficiency of aircraft such as the already versatile and reliable Black Hawk for military applications.

Through this Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA), Skyryse will work alongside Army aviation experts to leverage SkyOS’s highly-automated capabilities – simplified pilot operations, autonomy, enhanced safety features, and capability to operate both with and without pilots – for the unique needs of military missions.

“Skyryse is honored to partner with the U.S. Army to make military helicopters like the Black Hawk simpler and safer,” said Dr. Mark Groden, CEO of Skyryse. “By combining the Army’s operational expertise with Skyryse’s leadership in rotorcraft flight controls and automation, we have a unique opportunity to make flying simple and safe enough that any serviceperson can fly any aircraft. This CRADA underscores our commitment to creating safer solutions for all aviation – both civilian and military.”

The collaboration aligns with the Army’s strategic focus on modernization and aims to provide pilots with intuitive controls and automated systems that reduce workload, enhance mission effectiveness, and improve overall safety in complex operational environments. Under the CRADA, the partnership will also conduct joint testing and validation, ensuring that the new solutions meet the rigorous standards required for Army aviation.

Kim Stevens

Kim Stevens is the publisher of State Aviation Journal, which he founded in 2009. A longtime commercial-rated pilot, he was introduced to state aviation in 1992 as Director of the Nebraska Department of Aeronautics, later serving as Deputy Division Director for the Arizona Department of Transportation's Aeronautics Division. From 2013 to 2018, he was Director of Communications and Operations for the National Association of State Aviation Officials (NASAO) in Washington, D.C. Relocating to North Carolina, Kim worked for the Raleigh-Durham International Airport for two years and now concentrates solely on the Journal. Prior to his aviation career, Kim spent a decade in the newspaper and magazine business.