Airbus U.S. Space and Defense recently completed its second program demonstration in support of the U.S. Marine Corps Aerial Logistics Connector contract at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma. The demonstration evaluated the performance characteristics of the UH-72B Lakota platform, validated the aircraft’s ability to load and carry specialized cargo, and showcased how the aircraft can be modified to meet Marine Corps requirements for an Aerial Logistics Connector system that supports expeditionary advanced base operations. Airbus U.S. is entering the second year of the Aerial Logistics Connector Middle Tier of Acquisition (MTA) Rapid Prototyping Program, which aims to provide the service with aircraft prototypes to demonstrate capabilities to the warfighter through a series of operational demonstrations and experiments.
“This demonstration was another illustration of how our MQ-72C system can support a range of missions and payloads that Marines will need to perform operations in austere environments,” said Rob Geckle, Jr., Chairman and CEO of Airbus U.S. Space and Defense. “We believe this aircraft will redefine the future of Marine Corps aviation.”
Additional demonstrations will continue throughout the rest of 2025 that inform future acquisition decisions for the opportunity to build a prototype aircraft. In May 2024, Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) awarded Airbus U.S. Space & Defense a Phase I Other Transactional Authority Agreement, through Naval Aviation Systems Consortium, based on its unmanned UH-72 Logistics Connector concept, a variant of the proven UH-72 Lakota platform. In April 2025 Airbus U.S. Space & Defense and Shield AI announced a teaming agreement to integrate Shield AI’s Hivemind autonomy software on the Airbus MQ-72C Logistics Connector, an unmanned variant of the UH-72 Lakota. Under the agreement, Airbus U.S. Space & Defense and Shield AI will test Hivemind autonomy in collaboration with Airbus’ Helionix, advancing the future autonomous mission capabilities of the Marine Corps.
The Airbus U.S. team is entering the second year of the Aerial Logistics Connector Middle Tier of Acquisition (MTA) Rapid Prototyping Program, which aims to provide the service with aircraft prototypes to demonstrate capabilities to the warfighter through a series of operational demonstrations and experiments. The Aerial Logistics Connector effort is one of several efforts across the Department of Defense to deliver logistical support in distributed environments during peer or near- peer conflicts. With over 1.7 million flight hours and over 490 aircraft delivered across the U.S. Army, U.S. Navy and foreign allies, the UH-72 Lakota provides unmatched range and versatility in support of missions that include search and rescue, disaster response, homeland security, drug interdiction, firefighting and MEDEVAC. The UH-72 is a militarized version of the Airbus Helicopters H145, formerly the Eurocopter EC145, built by Airbus Helicopters, Inc.
