The UK’s first truly autonomous full-size helicopter has completed its maiden flight, operating from Predannack airfield in Cornwall.

The Proteus helicopter has been designed and built by Italian firm Leonardo as a demonstrator for the Royal Navy, to unlock the potential of uncrewed aerial systems, operating them side-by-side with crewed aircraft in a future hybrid air wing, and potentially at the heart of future anti-submarine operations.

Just weeks after completing ground running trials at Leonardo’s Yeovil site in the UK – where the helicopter’s systems, sensors and engines were tested before Proteus lifted off the ground – engineers, technicians and representatives from Leonardo (www.leonardo.com), the Royal Navy and UK Defence Innovation watched history in the making on the Lizard Peninsula.

Predannack serves as the satellite airfield for helicopters based at nearby RNAS Culdrose but is also key to developing autonomous systems as the National Drone Hub.

The successful flight delivers on key commitments in the Strategic Defence Review, which set out plans to create a hybrid navy with autonomous helicopters such as this demonstrator playing a central role in hybrid air wings and the Atlantic Bastion programme to secure the North Atlantic.

The Royal Navy operates several drones – including Malloy octocopters and Peregrine, a scaled-down helicopter which conducts surveillance duties – but Proteus eclipses them in terms of size, complexity and autonomy.

Designed and manufactured at the home of British helicopters in Yeovil, the Proteus technology demonstrator is being developed by Leonardo under a £60m programme supporting 100 jobs and is believed to be one of the world’s first full-sized autonomous helicopters.

In place of the crew in the cockpit, sensors and computer systems driven by software that enables Proteus to understand and process its environment, make decisions and act accordingly.

With a greater than one-tonne payload, Proteus can carry a range of equipment to conduct tasks in difficult weather conditions such as high sea and wind states, and also frees up crewed aircraft to conduct other critical sorties.

“This maiden flight is a proud moment for British innovation,” said Luke Pollard, the UK government’s minister for defence readiness and industry. “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 (www.royalnavy.mod.uk) deputy director, added: “The successful first flight of Proteus is a significant step in delivering the Royal Navy’s maritime aviation transformation vision, and to demonstrating our steadfast commitment to investing in autonomy as part of a hybrid air wing. This milestone signals our intent to lead technological innovation, to enhance the fighting effectiveness of the Royal Navy in an increasingly complex operating environment, and to maintain operational advantage against evolving maritime threats.”

During its first flight, Proteus was tasked with a short test routine that 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.

It has been designed to conduct a range of missions including anti-submarine warfare, patrolling the seas and drawing on information provided by a network of allied ships, helicopters, submarines and detection systems to hunt vessels beneath the waves.

Such machines are central to the Atlantic Bastion programme announced by the MoD last year, creating a hybrid naval force to defend the UK and Nato allies against evolving threats. It will enable the UK to find, track and, if required, act against adversaries with effectiveness across vast areas of ocean.

“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,” said Nigel Colman, managing director for helicopter at Leonardo in the UK (uk.leonardo.com). “As the UK’s only end-to-end rotary wing manufacturer, it has been a pleasure working with the Royal Navy and seeing Proteus take off for the first time after being designed, developed and manufactured at Leonardo’s Yeovil site is a fantastic milestone.”