Airbus U.S. Space & Defense and L3Harris Technologies have announced a strategic partnership to advance the development of the MQ-72C Logistics Connector, an unmanned variant of the UH-72 Lakota helicopter.
The collaboration, revealed on 14 May, focuses on integrating L3Harris’ platform system expertise to support the U.S. Marine Corps’ future aerial logistics needs in contested environments.
Under the agreement, L3Harris will supply its digital backbone infrastructure, complete with integrated command and control nodes. The system is built using a modular open systems architecture, allowing the rapid incorporation of third-party commercial hardware to enhance operational adaptability.
“Our MQ-72C platform is capable of supporting the warfighter on a range of unmanned operations that will support the future fight,” said Robert Geckle, Chairman and CEO of Airbus U.S. Space & Defense. “Partnering with a proven systems integrator opens the aperture on what our aircraft can do operationally in contested and austere environments.”
The unmanned aircraft is being developed as part of the Aerial Logistics Connector programme, a Middle Tier Acquisition (MTA) Rapid Prototyping effort. Now entering its second year, the programme is aimed at delivering aircraft prototypes that can demonstrate advanced logistics capabilities in a series of field experiments and operational tests.
The MQ-72C will play a key role in providing unmanned logistical support across distributed operating environments, a critical need identified in U.S. military planning for potential high-end conflicts.
Jason Lambert, President of Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance at L3Harris, said the company’s decades-long experience in aircraft systems integration would directly benefit the effort: “We are focused on accelerating development to get this capability into the hands of military personnel.”
He added, “With more than 60 years of experience in aircraft systems integration, L3Harris brings proven expertise developing complex mission system design and integration to enhance operational effectiveness in contested environments.”
The partnership is one of several U.S. Department of Defense initiatives exploring unmanned solutions to enhance logistics resilience in future conflicts.
