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Airbus MQ-72C Lakota Connector progress on track ahead of pending USMC decision

2nd December 2025 - 16:06 GMT | by Lucy Powell in London, UK

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The MQ-72C Lakota Connector mid-flight. (Photo: Airbus)

The MQ-7C uncrewed aircraft is currently undergoing further internal flight tests ahead of a government test event anticipated for next year.

First unveiled in early 2024, Airbus’ MQ-72C Lakota Connector is on track with its development, Airbus executives have confirmed to Shephard, ahead of a potential procurement decision by the US Marine Corps (USMC) for its Aerial Logistics Connector (ALC) programme.

In May 2024, Airbus was selected for Phase 1 of the ALC programme – a rapid prototyping initiative to deliver logistical support in austere and distributed environments. The MQ-72C is an uncrewed version of its UH-72B airframe and the company has partnered with L3Harris, Shield AI and Parry Labs for various systems on the aircraft.

The MQ-72C is now undergoing

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