| Proteus | |
|---|---|
| General information | |
| Type | Rotary-wing unmanned aerial vehicle |
| National origin | United Kingdom |
| Manufacturer | Leonardo Helicopters |
| Status | In development |
| Primary user | Royal Navy |
The Leonardo Proteus is an unmanned rotorcraft developed by Leonardo Helicopters for the Royal Navy. A technology demonstrator aircraft is currently being developed and manufactured at the company's site in Yeovil, England with a first flight planned for mid-2025. The design features a modular payload bay which can be interchanged to meet different mission requirements, such as at-sea replenishment and anti-submarine warfare.
In August 2013, the Ministry of Defence (MOD) placed a two-year contract with AugustaWestland (now Leonardo Helicopters) worth £2.3 million to develop its Rotary Wing Unmanned Aerial System (RWUAS) concept, which is funded through its Anti-Submarine Warfare Spearhead programme. An SW-4 Solo uncrewed rotorcraft, a derivative of the PZL SW-4 Puszczyk helicopter, was used for trials and experimentation. [1] [2] The MOD had previously considered the US Navy's MQ-8 Fire Scout but ruled it out as it "[did] not meet any endorsed UK capability need". [3] A phase two contract, worth £8 million, jointly funded by Leonardo and the MOD, was signed in 2017 to continue development. [4] A four-year contract worth £60 million was signed in July 2022 to develop a flyable three-tonne technology demonstrator, named Proteus, with the work to be carried out in Yeovil, England. [5]
The final design of Proteus was revealed in January 2025. Its airframe is derived from the Kopter AW09 single-engine light helicopter and shares its shrouded anti-torque system and five-bladed rotor. It is designed to carry modular payloads which can be interchanged to meet different mission requirements, such as at-sea replenishment and anti-submarine warfare. It was developed through the use of a digital twin and artificial intelligence, with more than 40 components manufactured using advanced composite materials. [6] [7] Whilst it is being primarily developed for the Royal Navy, it will also be focused on exportability. [8]
On 2 December 2025, Proteus conducted ground-based trials at Leonardo's facility located in Yeovil, UK. These trials encompassed evaluations of the engines, complex systems, and rotor blades in the company of high-ranking officials and specialists from the MOD. [9]