In the U.S., a Black Hawk Helicopter Deployed a Swarm of Altius-700 Drones for Autonomous Target Detection and Engagement

In the U.S., an H-60M Black Hawk helicopter deployed a swarm of Altius-700 drones, which autonomously detected targets, exchanged data with one another, and engaged them.

Anduril reported this and also released a video.

The demonstration took place during Project Convergence Capstone 6. The Black Hawk crew engaged several Altius-700 drones in a joint mission to test their ability to operate autonomously as a swarm.

This approach lets the drones distribute tasks and share the information they gather with other drones. As a result, the helicopter crew can use the drones as forward-deployed sensors and strike assets without flying directly toward the target.

The Altius-700 can be equipped with various payloads depending on the mission. In particular, it can be used for reconnaissance and electronic warfare. Its strike version, the Altius-700M, is designed to destroy targets, has a range of up to 160 km, and can remain airborne for up to 75 minutes.

The tests are part of the development of the Air-Launched Effects (A-LE) concept—using unmanned systems launched from manned aircraft to carry out missions at a significant distance from them.

During a three-day test phase in the Mojave Desert, H-60M crews launched and controlled several unmanned systems in a networked configuration. The U.S. Army also tested their performance under high-temperature conditions.

The next phase of the program is expected to involve using the Altius-700 alongside an armored unit, allowing testing of the autonomous system as part of a tactical formation.

This is not the first time the Altius-700 has been tested with U.S. Army Aviation. In April 2026, an AH-64E Apache launched an Altius-700 missile for the first time at the Yuma Proving Ground.

Even earlier, in 2024, Anduril released the results of tests of the strike version, the Altius-700M. During tests at the Dugway Proving Ground in Utah, the drone achieved six direct hits across six missions, including a mock-up of an anti-aircraft missile system.

The U.S. Army is also considering the Altius-700M for the LRPM program—a long-range, high-precision weapon system for helicopters. It is designed to let crews engage targets at long range without flying close to them.

The Altius family is also linked to support for Ukraine. The United Kingdom previously ordered Altius-600M and Altius-700M systems for the Ukrainian military under contracts totaling £30 million.