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Leonardo has been awarded a contract by the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD)’s Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S) Future Capability Group (FCG) to deliver the Rotary Wing Uncrewed Aerial System (RWUAS) Technology Demonstration Program (TDP), RWUAS CCD Phase 3 TDP. The four-year contract is valued at €71 million.
This program, funded through Defense Innovation, will include the flight of an advanced uncrewed Vertical Take Off and Landing (VTOL) prototype referred to by the UK MoD as Proteus. Proteus is a key element of the Royal Navy Future Maritime Aviation Force (FMAF) vision for Anti-Submarine Warfare support.
The award supports the company’s strategic goal for its site in Yeovil, Somerset, known as the ‘Home of British Helicopters’, to expand and also become the UK’s hub for uncrewed military VTOL aircraft.
Internationally, Leonardo is involved in numerous forward-looking uncrewed research and innovation programs ranging from advanced air mobility to uncrewed combat air, counter-UAS technologies and uncrewed traffic management.
In the UK, Leonardo is a close partner of the MoD and has already invested substantially in uncrewed military capabilities onshore. In Yeovil, the specialized helicopter design and engineering skills have made the site a focus for uncrewed systems. The company has previously conducted a number of advanced research projects under RWUAS phases 1 and 2. Phase 3 will sustain and grow this onshore design and technology development capability by readying a brand new uncrewed prototype for its maiden flight.
“Uncrewed VTOL aircraft will transform military capability whilst also having application in other market sectors, both in the UK and around the world,” said Adam Clarke, Managing Director of Leonardo Helicopters (UK). “This contract represents a major step towards our future in next generation uncrewed military technology and the sustainment of unique engineering skills onshore.”
Following on from learnings and technology developed through the first two phases of the RWUAS CCD program, Phase 3 will see Leonardo create an up to 2-3t demonstration aircraft that will have modularity at its core. The dual-use RWUAS prototype will be adapted to deliver a wide range of roles in the military and parapublic domains. These include Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR), maritime specific missions and logistics supply. The high payload and large volume capabilities, combined with ability to operate in harsh environmental conditions, are expected to be of interest to a wide range of potential users.
The majority of the program, which leverages Leonardo’s full range of end-to-end capabilities, from design to manufacture, will be conducted at the company’s facility in Yeovil. It will sustain and grow critical skills and generate high value design engineering opportunities. A core team of around 60 people will be employed on the program, which is expected to expand to around 100 people.
The UK MoD’s RWUAS CCD Phase 2 contract built on the research and development activity which began under the RWUAS CCD Phase 1 program between 2013 and 2015. Under Phase 2 further research, development, analysis and experimentation took place, which related to VTOL air-vehicle technologies and platform operations, within future operating environments, fleet mixes and the overall defense aviation capability structure.
