Overview
- Proteus completed two short sorties from Predannack Airfield in Cornwall, flying its own controls under supervision from ground-based test pilots.
- The helicopter was designed and built by Leonardo in Yeovil under a programme worth about £60 million that supports around 100 skilled jobs.
- The Royal Navy is using the aircraft to explore roles such as anti-submarine warfare, sea patrols and underwater vessel tracking within its Atlantic Bastion posture.
- With a payload exceeding one tonne, the modular design can carry a wide range of mission equipment and operate in demanding maritime conditions.
- Officials describe Proteus as a one-off technology testbed that will inform future autonomous rotary-wing platforms through continued flight trials.