The UK’s first full-size autonomous helicopter has flown for the first time in Cornwall, marking a major milestone in Royal Navy plans for a hybrid fleet and the Atlantic Bastion concept set out in the Strategic Defence Review.
British aviation history was made this week as Proteus, the UK’s first truly autonomous full-size helicopter, completed its maiden flight from Predannack airfield on the Lizard Peninsula.
Designed and manufactured in Yeovil by Leonardo, the helicopter is being developed for the Royal Navy as a technology demonstrator under a £60 million programme aimed at integrating uncrewed aircraft alongside crewed platforms in future naval air wings. The flight followed weeks of ground-running trials at Leonardo’s Yeovil site, where the aircraft’s engines, sensors and autonomous systems were tested before it took to the air. During the sortie, Proteus operated its own flight controls without a human pilot onboard, while being closely monitored by test pilots on the ground for safety.
Proteus is intended to demonstrate how large autonomous helicopters could support a future hybrid navy, conducting tasks such as maritime patrol and anti-submarine warfare while freeing up crewed aircraft for other missions. The concept aligns closely with the Atlantic Bastion strategy, which focuses on securing the North Atlantic through a networked mix of ships, submarines, crewed aircraft and uncrewed systems. Unlike smaller drones already in Royal Navy service, Proteus represents a “step change” in size and capability. With a payload of more than one tonne, the helicopter is designed to operate in challenging maritime conditions, including high sea states and strong winds, carrying sensors or mission equipment without placing aircrew at risk.
Luke Pollard, Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry, said the flight underlined the value of British defence innovation.
“This maiden flight is a proud moment for British innovation. Designed and built in Yeovil, Proteus supports skilled UK jobs while helping deliver the hybrid navy outlined in our Strategic Defence Review. Autonomous systems like this will be vital in protecting our seas without putting personnel in harm’s way.”
Commodore Steve Bolton, Royal Navy Deputy Director Aviation Future Programmes, described the event as a key moment for naval aviation.
“The successful first flight of Proteus is a significant step in delivering the Royal Navy’s maritime aviation transformation vision and demonstrates our commitment to investing in autonomy as part of a hybrid air wing.”
Leonardo said the programme supports around 100 highly skilled jobs in the UK and places Britain among a small number of nations developing full-size autonomous rotary-wing aircraft.
Nigel Colman, Managing Director Helicopters UK at Leonardo, said:
“Proteus represents a step-change in how maritime aviation can deliver persistence, adaptability and reach, conducting the dull, dirty and dangerous missions in challenging environments without putting human operators at risk.”
Further flight testing is expected as the Royal Navy and Leonardo continue to explore how autonomous helicopters could be integrated into future maritime operations and NATO defence planning.
Mazeltov!
British? I thought Leonardo was Italian, having taken over Westlands.
Does HMG have a golden share, like with other companies?
No, the Italian government does. The UK government has the National Security and Investment Act, 2021, and the threat of nationalisation.
No It was a merger between Augusta and Wastlands.
Protector drones out of Waddington fly by us occasionally and there is something irrationally disturbing about it I don’t know why. Not as scary as watching the Yank Ospreys fly past though, they just seem to defy aerodynamics.
Good to see the Lysander Road Toy Shop is busy 😁
(It’s OK, I know a few of the boys there from a while back)
I’m struggling to see the value add of these. No question that cheap drones have revolutionised warfare, but big expensive ones I am less clear on.
Ok you save the need for a crew, who can be sat back in blighty but still need all the repair and maintaince crew on the ship. Plus sat comms can be jammed resulting in a unusable vehicle.
I assume some weight and space saving from the lack of the crew but how much of that is going to then be lost by adding a powerful computer to do the flying.
What troubles me is the possibility of, come conflict, all one sides drones are succesfully hacked , strike their own forces & then return to the enemies vessels or do a suicide attack.
Weight saving from no crew can benefit in greater range than the manned system, with or without more fuel.
That has to happen sooner or later. I wouldn’t be surprised if it hasn’t already happend in Ukraine on a smaller scale.
It has already happened.
Pilots are real really expensive and a nightmare to train.
Small helicopter drones like this could allow you to put AWAC and ASW capabilities on every ship of the fleet quite cheaply so even OPV’s can now be significantly more useful.
Depends on weight. A radar that can see beyond the horizon and therefore exceed that of the ship would need to be of a certain size and weight. No idea what that is though.
Pilots are expensive for sure, but so are engineers to repair and service them. Plus it’s normally the upfront costs that is the biggest issue and I assume these helicopters are not going to be cheap.
I thought it was well known that drones are for the 3 D’s: dull, dirty, or dangerous, work.
Proteus is aimed at the dull: flying double digit hour sorties to perform ISR.
The size of the drone is immaterial.
Is it realistically going to have double digit hour flight time once equipped with sensors of some form and flying in ocean winds?
If it can then yeah I see the value add, but I doubt it.
The plane it’s based on before adding all the automation has a max flight time of 5 hours, which I assume is over land with minimal winds and load.
Wow a helicopter that flys itself, truly the British drone programme is breaking new ground 😂
We were so far ahead 15 years ago and now this.
No doubt the autonomous software is an improvement but this is hardly ambitious.
One hopes and prays this is a British success story. Though im sure UK government eill screw it up sooner or llater and we will end up purchasing a small from the US or Europe.
Nothing British about this sadly. 100 per cent Leonardo owned.