The U.S. Marine Corps awarded a $15.5 million contract to Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin company, and Robinson Unmanned on April 27, 2026, for Increment 2 of the Medium Aerial Resupply Vehicle Expeditionary Logistics (MARV-EL) program.
The contract supports development of the R66 TURBINETRUCK, an autonomous cargo helicopter that integrates Sikorsky’s MATRIX autonomy system with the Robinson R66 airframe. This platform addresses a logistics gap between small tactical drones and large strategic airlifters by providing a middleweight uncrewed option for resupply in contested environments.
Designed for operations from austere forward bases, ship decks, or unimproved landing zones, the R66 TURBINETRUCK can carry payloads from 1,300 to 2,500 pounds over a 100-nautical-mile combat radius. Missions are controlled via a common digital handheld device, enabling delivery of ammunition, medical supplies, and other equipment when ground routes or crewed aircraft are unavailable, thus reducing risks to personnel.
Robinson Unmanned will deliver the first R66 TURBINETRUCK to Sikorsky for integration, testing, evaluation, and demonstration. The MATRIX system, which features a platform-agnostic open architecture, draws from technology used in Sikorsky’s S-70UAS U-Hawk helicopter. The program aims to sustain Marine forces at the tactical edge during high-tempo operations where crewed assets face vulnerabilities.