Proteus RWUAS demonstrator performs first flight

Leonardo's Proteus RWUAS technology demonstrator has begun flight tests. (Leonardo)

Leonardo Helicopters UK has successfully completed a first flight of the rotary-wing uncrewed air system (RWUAS) testbed developed under the UK Royal Navy's (RN's) Proteus technology demonstrator programme.

The maiden flight milestone, performed at Predannack Airfield in Cornwall, southwest England, was announced by the RN and Leonardo on 16 January. According to the service, the autonomous RWUAS “was tasked with a short test routine, which saw the aircraft operate its own flying controls independently of any human operator, all while under constant supervision and monitoring by test pilots on the ground to ensure flight safety”.

The Proteus technology demonstrator programme is being delivered under a four-year GBP60 million (USD80.4 million) RWUAS Phase 3a contract awarded to Leonardo by the UK Ministry of Defence in June 2022. Sponsored through the RN's Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) Spearhead initiative, Proteus has been designed to generate evidence that a large autonomous and modular unmanned aircraft system can deliver or contribute to the delivery of military maritime effects with fewer people and at lower cost.

The 3 tonne class technology demonstrator – a single-engine design strongly leveraging the Kopter AW09 light helicopter – completed ground testing at Leonardo's facility in Yeovil, Somerset, during November 2025. Flight-testing had been planned to start in December, but inclement weather at Predannack – a satellite airfield for helicopters based at nearby Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose that also hosts the National Drone Hub test and evaluation centre – forced a postponement into the new year.