Honeywell and Near Earth Autonomy have successfully conducted the first autonomous test flight of a Leonardo AW139 helicopter, marking a key milestone in the U.S. Marine Corps Aerial Logistics Connector (ALC) program. This achievement demonstrates the potential for uncrewed, autonomous aircraft to operate independently in contested environments, without the need for an onboard or remote pilot.
The flight, held in Phoenix, Arizona in May, was executed on Honeywell’s AW139 and showcased the ability of Near Earth’s autonomy software to control the helicopter’s key autopilot modes without pilot intervention. This proves the system’s precision flight control and autonomous decision-making capabilities.
The ALC program, conducted under a Naval Aviation Systems Consortium Other Transaction Agreement (OTA) with Near Earth Autonomy as the lead, aims to create scalable, autonomous aerial logistics platforms to reduce personnel risk and accelerate supply chain operations. Upcoming testing will further advance the system’s autonomy, including automated obstacle avoidance and seamless integration with military logistics workflows.
Honeywell and Near Earth Autonomy are jointly developing an autonomy solution that is affordable, scalable, and certifiable for future operations. Honeywell’s mission-critical technologies support both current and next-generation aircraft, enabling the transition toward highly autonomous, uncrewed missions.
