USMC taps Sikorsky, Robinson Unmanned for autonomous aerial logistics program

April 29, 2026, by Fatima Bahtić

Sikorsky and Robinson Unmanned have secured a US Marine Corps (USMC) contract to advance autonomous aerial resupply under the Medium Aerial Resupply Vehicle – Expeditionary Logistics (MARV-EL) program.

The offering selected for award is the R66 TURBINETRUCK, an autonomous cargo helicopter commercially developed by Sikorsky and Robinson Unmanned. The helicopter combines Sikorsky’s MATRIX autonomy system with the rugged R66 airframe from Robinson Helicopter Company.

The MATRIX system enables the R66 TURBINETRUCK and will leverage similar features to those of Sikorsky’s new fully autonomous S-70UAS U-Hawk helicopter. The R66 will support mission success when ground or crewed aviation assets are unavailable and keep personnel out of danger in high‑risk scenarios.

“As we expand the MATRIX family, we also extend the reach of uncrewed solutions for both civil and military customers,” said Rich Benton, vice president and general manager of Sikorsky.

“Our partnership with Sikorsky brings the trusted performance and reliability of the R66 platform into the unmanned logistics arena,” stated David Smith, president and CEO of Robinson Helicopter Company.

“The R66 TURBINETRUCK represents a significant step forward in expanding proven rotorcraft into scalable, autonomous cargo solutions for demanding operational environments.”

MARV-EL program

The MARV-EL program represents a middleweight capability designed to fill a critical gap within the broader Unmanned Logistics System–Air (ULS-A) effort.

Under the program’s requirements, the uncrewed aircraft must be capable of carrying a logistics payload of between 1,300 and 2,500 pounds over a combat radius of 100 nautical miles. Operations will be managed through a common digital handheld device, simplifying control in the field.

As part of the effort, Robinson Unmanned will deliver the first R66 TURBINETRUCK to Sikorsky, where it will undergo integration, testing, evaluation, and demonstration. These demonstrations are expected to highlight the flexibility of Sikorsky’s MATRIX autonomy system, particularly its platform-agnostic and open-architecture design when paired with the R66 airframe.

The MATRIX system will be integrated into the TURBINETRUCK in a manner similar to Sikorsky’s S-70 UAS “U-Hawk” helicopter, while adapting to a smaller footprint, different performance characteristics, and reduced operating costs.

From an operational standpoint, the workflow mirrors that of the U-Hawk system. Operators input mission objectives via a digital tablet, after which the system autonomously generates a flight plan and uses onboard sensors and algorithms to safely navigate the aircraft to its destination.

Sikorsky’s approach also builds on prior experience, having participated in the US Marine Corps’ Aerial Logistics Connector (ALC) Phase 1 in 2025, experience it will now carry forward into MARV-EL Increment 2.