Bell Textron has been selected to partner with Near Earth Autonomy to develop an autonomous version of the Bell 505 helicopter for the US Marine Corps’ MARV-EL program.

Near Earth Autonomy Enables 100+ NM Autonomous Flight for RUC-60 Black Hawk

The goal is to create a mid-sized, uncrewed aircraft capable of delivering supplies in contested or expeditionary environments, improving battlefield logistics, and reducing risk to personnel. Bell will support engineering modifications while Near Earth integrates autonomous flight systems and cargo-handling capabilities.

The effort builds on Bell’s broader autonomy initiatives, including its ALFA platform, and represents a step toward fully autonomous aerial resupply operations for military use.