Airbus UH-72B Unmanned Logistics Connector for USMC

In this exclusive interview recorded at Sea Air Space 2024, Carl Forsling, Business Development manager at Airbus US Space & Defense, discusses Airbus’ innovative proposal to address the US Marine Corps’ aerial logistics needs. Introducing the UH-72B Unmanned Logistics Connector, a game-changing solution designed to support Marines across the vast Pacific island chains.
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Key Features:
Proven Platform: Based on the H145/UH-72 platform, a globally recognized light twin helicopter serving commercial, parapublic, and military customers worldwide.
Performance Excellence: The UH-72B can transport critical cargo, including standard containers and ordnance, over long distances at high speeds.
Reliability: Demonstrated high operational readiness even in demanding conditions.
Flexibility and Growth Potential: Incorporates open autonomy, digital backbone, and available SWAP (Size, Weight, and Power) for mission expansion.
Affordability: A low-risk, cost-effective solution for the contested logistics challenge faced by the Marines.
Join us as we explore how the UH-72B Unmanned Logistics Connector could revolutionize expeditionary advanced base operations and enhance the Marine Corps’ capabilities. 🚁🌊
Learn more about the UH-72B Unmanned Logistics Connector on our website: Airbus UH-72B Unmanned Logistics Connector1.
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[@GlenCychosz]

Can the main rotor blades fold?

[@hackia274]

Potentially yes. The model would allow for it

[@user-jr2dz3vn5h]

👏👍🤙

[@thearisen7301]

I'd really like to see a flying boat for this role tbh.

[@mcRydes]

DARPA is hoping to have a prototype optionally piloted flying boat by the end of this year. They’re calling it the liberty lifter. Oh lol and also it’s a monster ground effect flier like an ekranoplane.

[@fitzjount]

MQ-8C could do the mission. This looks like a repackaged variant of that platform.

[@Nottyok]

Are you stupid?

[@phillipshorter7751]

It's a larger chopper with a bigger payload capacity from an entirely different manufacturer. Similar concept sure, but significantly different aircraft.

[@edsutherland8266]

An optionally crewed helicopter would be far more useful, giving the flexibility to carry troops and cargo.

[@hackia274]

No cause it would probably loose a lot of useful load.

[@edsutherland8266]

Yes, it would carry less, but it would be infinitely more useful. They would be able to use it for liaison, search & rescue, potentially even fire support etc, in addition to merely hauling cargo. If it’s the purely uncrewed version, you lose most of that flexibility.

[@Kenny-yl9pc]

I think it would be very beneficial if you prepared yourself for the interview, i.e. what questions to ask etcetera. Maybe even write them down in order to remember them better, and rank them according to importance. That way you can follow a coherent and informational line of questioning, hence provide your audience with the most educational and informative interview possible. Why do I suggest that? Because this interview and many others before that are obviously not prepared and therefore leave a lot of room for improvement. There are so many better questions to ask... You can do much better than that, and I think you know that. There is no shame nor harm in acknowledging that and being open to improving one's game and skillset. I hope you do!

[@xaviervavasseur8616]

Just to give you some context, we were walking the floor and literally stumbled upon this unmanned helicopter which I had no idea about (nor about the USMC program). I asked Airbus is this the first time you are showing this, they said yes. We were pressed for time so I asked if they were available for the brief interview. They said yes. And we rolled right way. Please understand we cover so many defense shows that we focus on new programs / projects / systems, more often than not these are showcased for the very first time. As such there is no way to "prepare questions". On top of things, more often than not I am jet lagged like crazy. But thank you for your feedback 👍

[@bjorn2625]

@@xaviervavasseur8616 And we are MANY who appreciate the volume and quality of your content - carry on, as far as I'm concerned!

[@willw8011]

The Lakota helicopter was and is a gigantic waste of money. The US Army was forced to buy those, but the US Army said they cannot deploy those to a combat area, so those are completely useless for military application. These style helicopters are the same/ similar to air ambulance helicopters used in civilian application, which is the role those were designed to do. After being forced to buy those, the US Army was looking for a role for those, and at one point wanted to make those training helicopters, but those are too difficult to fly for training pilots. The US Army gave those to the Army National Guard and will never deploy those. Now the Congress is forcing the USMC to buy some too. There should be an investigation into this contract, and many many people should be going to prison for life due to the corruption involved. It is absolutely disgusting what the politicians do to the US Military. Banana republic levels of corruption throughout the military procurement system.

[@hackia274]

They work extremely well and are reliable. For the intended role they are pretty much ideal. Sorry but you don’t know what you are talking about.

[@willw8011]

@@hackia274 No, you do not know what you are talking about. The helicopter is far inferior to the UH-60, and the US Army was forced to buy these. Unlike these, the UH-60 can go into combat roles and can do many more thing... and the US Army already had the training, knowledge and infrastructure for the UH-60. This helicopter is fine for civilian applications, as an air ambulance, but has no role in the US Military.

[@Winchester1979]

@@willw8011 The Army and national guard were flying a large fleet of UH-1 helicopters into the 1990s after they'd been replaced in all combat roles by the UH-60; and they needed something in the same weight class to replace them. They're intended for jobs in the US where a UH-60 is overkill; same as how the US Army has thousands of civilian-model pickup trucks for jobs stateside where the HMMWV is overkill. If I recall correctly, the response from the National Guard who operates most of them to there not being a combat variant was "PERFECT! That means Big Army can't steal all of our helicopter capacity when they go the next round in the sandbox"

[@augustiner3821]

just for my understanding from the European perspective, who forces the US Army to buy something what they don't want and how does that work? The were some incidents in the navy as well. Isn't there an military evaluation process?

[@ImpendingJoker]

@@willw8011 You are clearly uninformed. The UH-72A was bought primarily for the Army National Guard and Army Reserve to fill the MEDEVAC, and Intra-theater resupply in the US. It was NEVER intended to go into hot combat zones. For the missions the Lakota does, the UH-60 is gross overkill, and way to expensive. It would be like going an buying an Aston-Martin to just go to the grocery store once a week. Could it do it? Yes. Could you do it for cheaper with a Honda Civic? Very yes. The H-145 airframe that the UH-72A is based on is a very reliable and proven aircraft, and they are practically off the shelf models with very little in the way of modifications to them. It's this lack of militarization that makes them unsuitable for combat operations. You need to go back and read the original request for bids that the Army sent out that stated the requirements they were looking to fill and how they wanted to fill them.

[@FLORIDIANMILLIONAIRE]

It sucks that USMC gives it's requirements to large foreign companies but not USA based aerospace small businesses who can really do a much better and cheaper design

[@Sundarsbloodyvagina]

97th like... and go back and look at how the guy that logged his likes in past videos over several months old has disappeared! Sundar's magic hurts your algorithm! Much love... but not you Sundar!