Story perspectives

Remote-Controlled Black Hawk Successfully Demonstrated by DARPA

11/18/2025

Center

Hegseth Showcases ALIAS

On November 14, 2025, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth demonstrated remotely piloting a UH-60 Black Hawk at DARPA, showing a capability enabled by ALIAS.
The demonstration highlighted the Aircrew Labor In-Cockpit Automation System (ALIAS) enabling helicopters to operate autonomously or with minimal crew.
The event confirmed remote helicopter operations are viable and will be followed by field testing and cybersecurity work.

Right

Hegseth Launches Operation

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth announced Operation Southern Spear to target narco-terrorism in Latin America.
A Caribbean strike killed three alleged narco-terrorists aboard a smuggling vessel.
The State Department plans to designate Cartel de los Soles as a Foreign Terrorist Organization.
U.S. President Donald Trump’s AI Action Plan guides a streamlined approach focusing on six critical areas to enhance military technology.

Left

Hegseth Faces Backlash

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth faced backlash after posting operation names—"OPERATION ROUGH RIDER," "OPERATION MIDNIGHT HAMMER," and "OPERATION SOUTHERN SPEAR"—to showcase strength under U.S. President Donald Trump.
Responses ranged from ridicule to concerns that the operation names made America appear weak.
Democrats criticized Hegseth's push to rename the Department of Defense as the "Department of War," noting it would require congressional approval and could cost up to $2 billion.

History

Historical Context

The U.S. military's ALIAS program, initiated in 2015 with over $100 million in funding from DARPA, aims to enhance pilot automation in aircraft. This initiative reflects a broader trend in aviation towards increased reliance on automated systems, which can lead to automation bias, where pilots may trust automated aids over their own judgment, impacting operational effectiveness in combat and counter-terrorism strategies.

1 of 4

Hegseth Showcases ALIAS

On November 14, 2025, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth demonstrated remotely piloting a UH-60 Black Hawk at DARPA, showing a capability enabled by ALIAS.
The demonstration highlighted the Aircrew Labor In-Cockpit Automation System (ALIAS) enabling helicopters to operate autonomously or with minimal crew.
The event confirmed remote helicopter operations are viable and will be followed by field testing and cybersecurity work.

1 / 4