Leonardo has unveiled the Proteus technology demonstrator aircraft, developed for the Royal Navy which will undergo flight testing in mid-2025.
Leonardo has unveiled the Proteus technology demonstrator aircraft, developed in collaboration with the Royal Navy and the UK Ministry of Defence’s Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S) Future Capability Innovation (FCI) team. The approximately three-tonne uncrewed helicopter is designed to showcase advancements in autonomy, payload modularity, and interchangeability while pioneering new rotorcraft technologies and manufacturing processes. Its development aligns with the RN Maritime Aviation Transformation (MATx) strategy, which envisions the future of maritime aviation through 2040, emphasizing increased operational capacity at sea and supporting future anti-submarine warfare missions.
A key feature of Proteus RWUAS (Rotary Wing Uncrewed Aircraft System) is its innovative modular payload bay, enabling flexibility and adaptability. Leonardo has employed advanced digital design and manufacturing techniques, including the use of a digital twin for synthetic development, more than 40 components constructed with advanced composite materials, and AI-enhanced control software.
The Proteus programme is progressing rapidly, with the first flight of the new rotorcraft planned for mid-2025, following the contract award in June 2022. To accelerate development and reduce costs, the design leverages components from Leonardo’s existing helicopter portfolio and draws on expertise from its existing UAS programmes.
The Proteus design will demonstrate the feasibility of deploying large uncrewed aerial systems (UAS) in maritime environments, serving as a platform for developing and testing autonomous capabilities. This includes refining flight control laws and algorithms specifically for large autonomous Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) aircraft.
A standout feature of Proteus is its modular payload bay, which offers exceptional mission flexibility. This design allows for trade-offs between fuel capacity and mission payload, enabling the aircraft to be configured for a variety of operational roles. The ability to integrate mission-specific payloads provides field commanders with a versatile solution from a single aircraft type. This approach not only enhances operational adaptability but also delivers cost efficiency by reducing the need to procure and maintain multiple aircraft fleets.
As we reported in our earlier article, Proteus’ flexible payload bay will allow it to be configured for the Airborne Surveillance and Control Mission (ASac) or Anti-Submarine missions. Proteus can also be ‘teamed’ with crewed aircraft such as the Wildcat (shown in the main image above).
