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Britain’s Royal Navy said on Friday that its first full-sized autonomous helicopter, designed to hunt submarines and conduct other high-risk missions in the increasingly contested North Atlantic, has successfully completed its maiden flight.
After a successful launch, the UK plans to broaden the deployment of unmanned systems at sea in response to escalating tensions with Russia and the overall military buildup in Europe following Moscow’s extensive invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Named Proteus, the unmanned helicopter carried out a short test routine, the Navy said, describing the platform as a key asset for protecting Britain and its NATO allies against “evolving threats” in the North Atlantic, according to a Reuters report.
Developed under a 60 million-pound ($80.46 million) programme, Proteus has been designed and built by Italian defence and aerospace firm Leonardo. The helicopter is powered by advanced sensors and software-driven computer systems that allow it to interpret its surroundings and make operational decisions with minimal human intervention.
According to the Royal Navy, Proteus is intended for anti-submarine warfare, maritime surveillance, and tracking underwater vessels, capabilities that are becoming increasingly important as Russian submarine activity in the North Atlantic draws growing attention from NATO navies.
“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, UK Managing Director of Leonardo Helicopters.
The Royal Navy already operates several unmanned aerial systems, including a smaller surveillance helicopter drone, but officials say Proteus is significantly larger, more capable, and better suited for long-duration missions over open water.
The debut of Proteus comes as the strategic importance of the North Atlantic is under renewed focus, including U.S. discussions about Greenland, partly driven by Washington’s interest in better monitoring Russian naval movements in the waters between Greenland, Iceland, and Britain. Moscow has dismissed such concerns as exaggerated.
Team BharatShakti
