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BERLIN—Airbus Helicopters is getting ready to unveil an uncrewed variant of its H145 twin-engine light helicopter at Berlin’s ILA Airshow which opens June 10.

The airframer’s U145 is an entirely separate development to its MQ-72C Lakota Connector platform being developed by its U.S.-based business for the U.S. Marine Corps with ShieldAI, L3Harris, and Pary Labs.

Here in Europe, Airbus is leaning on its work on the VSR700 naval rotary-wing uncrewed air system (UAS) to create an autonomous H145 that could perform logistics mission, firefighting, aerial scout and act as a mothership for air-launched effects. Airbus is partnering with missile manufacturer, MBDA on the latter capability.

Like the Lakota Connector, the 3.8 metric ton U145 has no physical cockpit, features an empty cabin with a cargo floor and an openable nose door for the loading of equipment, in addition to the existing rear clamshell doors. Airbus hopes the U145 will appeal to European countries.

“With the U145, we are offering our customers an autonomous, uncrewed version of our H145 helicopter—combining the proven airframe, power and useful load of the H145 with the autonomy of a UAS,” Airbus Helicopters CEO Matthieu Louvot says.

“To develop the U145 and its capabilities as a multi-mission UAS, we will be teaming up with leading autonomous mission partners to further expand the UAS ecosystem in Europe,” he adds.

The aircraft is being displayed in mockup form at the air show. But Airbus is planning to advance development of the aircraft quickly with a first flight with a safety pilot planned for the end of 2026 and service entry at the beginning of the 2030s.

Aviation Week reported in February that Airbus was working on an uncrewed variant developed outside the U.S.

Airbus' decision was driven by dramatic changes in geopolitics and Europe’s push to develop sovereign capabilities and reduce reliance on Washington.

The H145 has been chosen for the role in part because of its performance, but also because the uncrewed model retains commonality with the crewed H145M. That helicopter is in service or on order from a growing number of European and international customers for utility and light attack missions.

Developing uncrewed variants of its helicopters aligns with Airbus Helicopters' three-pillar uncrewed air systems strategy. That has included the takeover of U.S. UAS developer Aerovel which developed the vertical-takeoff-and-landing Flexrotor air system. The products of Airbus-owned French UAS developer Survey Copter have also been brought under the helicopters business’ umbrella.