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———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————-16 Jan 26. New Royal Navy autonomous helicopter makes history with first flight.
- The UK’s first autonomous full-size helicopter, Proteus, has completed its maiden flight at Predannack airfield in Cornwall
- Designed and manufactured in Yeovil, Proteus is being developed by Leonardo under a £60m programme delivering one of the world’s first full-sized autonomous helicopters
- Milestone on drive towards new hybrid navy, as outlined in the Strategic Defence Review
Stills and rushes, plus talking heads/pieces to camera from Royal Navy and Leonardo personnel involved in the project can be downloaded from: https://imagery.royalnavy.mod.uk/bundles/696a09a7407abca0c6271db5 British aviation history has been made with the UK’s first truly autonomous full-size helicopter completing its maiden flight, operating from Predannack airfield in Cornwall. The helicopter has been designed and built by 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 as part of the Atlantic Bastion strategy. Just weeks after completing comprehensive ‘ground running’ trials at Leonardo’s Yeovil site – where the helicopter’s systems, sensors and engines were tested before Proteus lifted off the ground – engineers, technicians and representatives from Leonardo, 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, near Helston, but is also key to developing uncrewed/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 ‘New Hybrid Navy’ with autonomous helicopters like 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 above all 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 highly-skilled British jobs and is believed to be one of the world’s first full-sized autonomous helicopters. In place of the crew in the cockpit/cabin, sensors and computer systems driven by cutting-edge software which 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 challenging weather conditions such as high sea and wind states – and also frees up crewed aircraft to conduct other critical sorties.
Luke Pollard, Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry, said: “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 said: “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.”
Nigel Colman, Managing Director Helicopters UK, Leonardo added: “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. 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.”
During its first flight, Proteus was tasked with a short test routine which 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 month, creating an advanced 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 unprecedented effectiveness across vast areas of ocean. (Source: https://www.gov.uk/)
15 Jan 26. British Ultra heavy-lift drone extends range to 2,000km. British civil and defence drone manufacturer Windracers has announced that its dual-use heavy-lift unmanned aerial system, ULTRA, can now fly up to 2,000 kilometres in a single mission, a range comparable to the distance between London and Marrakesh. The announcement was made at the Windracers LAUNCH 2026 event in central London, where chief executive Simon Muderack confirmed that the aircraft can be configured to carry a 200kg payload over the full 2,000km range. The upgrade builds on ULTRA’s existing long-range logistics and operational profile, which has already seen it deployed in some of the world’s most demanding environments. Founder and chairman Stephen Wright said demand for the platform is increasing across defence, humanitarian, research and civil air cargo roles, with new missions scheduled to begin later this month. The event was attended by MPs, government officials and representatives from international research and innovation bodies. Demonstrations during the launch included a fully autonomous flight mission at Llanbedr Airfield in North Wales, highlighting Windracers’ focus on autonomous aviation and long-endurance operations. The company also showcased ULTRA’s drop-floor logistics capability, designed to support resupply missions in remote or contested locations. Windracers’ head of engineering, Konstantinos Kontogiannis, confirmed that the aircraft can already carry more than 100kg over 2,000km, with the 200kg configuration expected to be available in the coming months. Head of manufacturing Joe Roberts outlined plans to scale production, with facilities being expanded to support the manufacture of hundreds of ULTRA aircraft over the next two years. ULTRA is already in active use in regions including Ukraine, Alaska, Central Africa and the polar regions, supporting logistics, research and operational tasks in austere environments. The aircraft has also been deployed at Rothera Research Station in Antarctica, the UK’s largest research facility on the continent.
Stephen Wright said the new endurance milestone places ULTRA among a small group of long-range unmanned systems shaping future air operations. “With its combination of heavy-lift capability and 2,000km range now in development, Windracers ULTRA sits among a select group of long-endurance UAS that are redefining what is possible in both civil and defence operations,” he said. “Windracers is pushing the boundaries to make dual-use heavy-lift drones a cost-effective, reliable and safe aviation system for those who need it most.”
Simon Muderack said the company’s focus remained on operational relevance rather than technology for its own sake. “What we’re achieving with Windracers ULTRA is not just about the technology itself, but how it fits into wider operations and strategy to deliver missions that have a positive outcome on the ground,” he said.
The system has been described by government figures as a key British sovereign capability. Minister for the Armed Forces Al Carns said: “Operational endurance is key to any mission. Windracers’ new British-built heavy-lift drone, that can carry a 200kg payload over 2,000km, has it in spades.” He added that increased defence spending would help unlock further growth in the sector. ULTRA has also been adopted by research organisations working in environmental and climate science. Cathy Cahill, professor at the University of Alaska Fairbanks and director of the Alaska Center for Unmanned Aircraft Systems Integration, said: “We chose Windracers ULTRA because of its proven ability to operate in extreme and remote environments. Using heavy-lift drones like ULTRA allows us to deliver vital goods and services to communities that are otherwise inaccessible, without putting pilots at risk.” Windracers said the latest endurance upgrade reinforces ULTRA’s role across defence and civil domains, supporting logistics, research and operational resilience while contributing to the UK’s wider ambitions in sovereign unmanned aviation technology. (Source: News Now/https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/)
13 Jan 26. Textron Systems Corporation, a Textron Inc. (NYSE:TXT) company, announced today the introduction of its Multi Mission Uncrewed Surface Vessel (MMUSV), the 5th generation of its CUSV® craft. Building on the CUSV, common unmanned surface vessel’s, proven maturity, the MMUSV offers longer range and higher endurance, expanding the U.S. Navy’s capacity for advanced mission capabilities including surface warfare, mine countermeasures (MCM), intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) and signals intelligence (SIGINT). Textron Systems was awarded the Low-Cost Unmanned Maritime Solution (Large) award through the Expeditionary Mission Consortium-Crane (EMC2) in August 2025 for the development, testing and delivery of the craft. Designed to meet the needs of the U.S. Navy and its allies, the MMUSV offers two times the fuel and payload capacity (up to 13,000 pounds) of earlier craft, survivability up to Sea State 5 and towing capacity of 4,000+ pounds, while being a low-cost, rapid production solution that builds on Textron Systems’ 40+ years of multi-domain autonomous vehicle experience.
“As an industry leader in USVs, Textron Systems has spent the last three decades at the forefront of autonomous system innovation,” said David Phillips, Senior Vice President Air, Land and Sea Systems. “Our expertise in design, integration and fielding have consistently delivered unrivaled maritime strength to the Navy and its allies. The scalability of our systems ensures that the MMUSV, the next advancement in our lineup, provides enhanced mission capabilities rapidly and efficiently.”
Textron Systems is the originator of the CUSV, the Mine Countermeasure (MCM) USV for the U.S. Navy Unmanned Influence Sweep System (UISS) program of record. The business continues to support the Navy’s Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) Mine Countermeasures Mission Package efforts through multi-year support contracts including fleet support and sustainment, engineering services and depot maintenance, a multi-year production contract for delivery of Mine Sweep Payload Delivery Systems (PDS), and a multi-year development and integration contract for a next generation Minesweeping payload called Magnetic and Acoustic Generation Next Unmanned Superconducting Sweep (MAGNUSS).
09 Jan 26. USMC taps Northrop Grumman for MUX TACAIR CCA effort. Northrop Grumman, Kratos, and partners developed a CCA with survivability, connectivity, lethality, and supportability features. Northrop Grumman has been selected to provide the US Marine Corps (USMC) with a new generation of uncrewed expeditionary tactical aircraft under the Marine Air-Ground Task Force Uncrewed Expeditionary Tactical Aircraft (MUX TACAIR) Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) programme. The company will lead development and rapid delivery of uncrewed platforms intended to operate in coordination with manned fighter jets for air dominance roles. The project draws on Northrop Grumman’s expertise in autonomous and uncrewed systems, combined with Kratos Defense and Security Solutions’ Valkyrie uncrewed aerial system. The collaboration aims to enhance operational effectiveness in high-threat environments by integrating crewed and uncrewed aerial assets. Central to Northrop Grumman’s offering is an advanced mission kit that incorporates sensors and software-defined technology designed specifically for autonomous aircraft. This mission kit is structured to support multiple operational roles, including both kinetic and non-kinetic effects. The company will implement its Prism open architecture autonomy software to manage missions autonomously across the new aircraft platforms. Kratos’ Valkyrie system will augment the programme with conventional take-off and landing capability, a modular airframe, and adaptable payload bays. Northrop Grumman advanced mission capabilities vice president Krys Moen said: “Northrop Grumman remains at the forefront of advanced sensing capabilities, delivering innovative solutions that meet the needs of the warfighter with unmatched speed and reliability. This enhanced capability set ensures optimal performance for both crewed and uncrewed platforms.” Northrop Grumman has adapted its sensors and mission systems for use on uncrewed platforms. Working with Kratos and other partners, the company developed a CCA that incorporates survivability, connectivity, lethality, and supportability features. The team has conducted more than 20 flight demonstrations in relevant environments to support the US Marine Corps’ MUX TACAIR mission requirements. In December 2024, USMC contracted Northrop Grumman to integrate Advanced Tactical Data Links (ATDL) into LITENING electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) targeting pods on F/A-18 aircraft. (Source: naval-technology.com)
09 Jan 26. Hanwha and HavocAI plan 200ft autonomous vessels production. Hanwha Philly Shipyard is being considered to build the autonomous ASVs. Hanwha Defense USA (HDUSA), Hanwha Systems Co, and HavocAI have entered into a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to jointly develop 200-foot (ft) autonomous surface vessels (ASVs). Presently, Hanwha is the only shipbuilder operating a US shipyard that has entered into a joint agreement with an autonomous-vessel company. HDUSA stated that the production of the ASVs may take place at Hanwha Philly Shipyard. The development forms part of the US Government’s Modular Attack Surface Craft solicitation programme. The MoU outlines that the three companies will cooperate on mass production planning, installation, proposal development, and technical expertise related to the ASVs. HDUSA CEO Michael Coulter said: “By forging a partnership between an allied defence company with advanced manufacturing scale in Hanwha with a software-first defence technology company in HavocAI, we will deliver state-of-the art ASVs at scale for American service members.
“This agreement will not only deliver for the American warfighter but will create much-needed competition for the Department of War acquisition process.”
HavocAI recently completed an $85m funding round and has confirmed sales of multiple vessels to the US Department of Defense (DoD). The company also showcased its collaborative autonomy technology to Ukrainian officials in GPS-denied environments. In October last year, Hanwha and HavocAI announced a strategic relationship following a joint demonstration at Hanwha Ocean’s Geoje shipyard in South Korea. During this event, HavocAI conducted an autonomous force protection mission off Hawaii’s coast with command and control from Geoje. The following month, HavocAI formed a partnership with Science Applications International Corp to integrate autonomous technologies with multi-domain communication systems for US Navy maritime operations. HavocAI co-founder and CEO Paul Lwin said: “The Department of War has sent a clear demand signal to the shipbuilding industry: we need more boats, faster, with more capabilities, for less money. Partnerships like this – pairing a leading-edge technology with an established global infrastructure – are exactly how we achieve that goal.” (Source: naval-technology.com)
13 Jan 26. France Tests Manual Drone Drops from Airbus A400M. France has completed a series of experimental flight trials to assess the feasibility of releasing drones from a military transport aircraft, using an Airbus A400M as the test platform. The campaign was led by the French defence procurement agency, Direction générale de l’armement (DGA), and focused on manually releasing inert drone mock-ups. The trials were designed to validate numerical models, particularly separation dynamics, trajectories, and aircraft safety margins. Conducted jointly by DGA Techniques aérospatiales (DGA TA) and DGA Essais en vol (DGA EV), the campaign used representative drone mock-ups without onboard electronics, designed and manufactured by DGA TA and released from an A400M operated by DGA EV. Across three flights, a total of 72 inert mock-ups were dropped. Twenty-one were released through the paratroop door, while 51 were deployed via the rear cargo ramp. These configurations were intended to represent the main categories of drones that could theoretically be launched from a tactical transport aircraft. French officials emphasized that such physical testing is essential to refine simulations, including computational fluid dynamics models. Key parameters under study included aerodynamic behavior in the aircraft’s wake, separation mechanics, impact forces, and the structural resilience of the drones. Although manual releases may appear rudimentary, officials said the method is well suited to early-stage experimentation. Initial results were described as encouraging. The DGA plans to expand the approach to other transport platforms, including the Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules and the CASA CN-235, with progressively more refined simulations and test campaigns. These trials align with a broader effort by Airbus and the French Air and Space Force to expand the A400M’s role beyond transport. Airbus and its partners are studying higher payload margins, roll-on/roll-off mission modules, and palletized systems for ISR, electronic warfare, and mass deployment of drones or munitions. Airbus has already used the A400M as a drone-launch testbed in earlier Remote Carrier trials conducted in 2022. (Source: UAS VISION/AeroTime)
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EOS
Electro Optic Systems (EOS) is an Australian technology company with a global presence, delivering advanced solutions across defence and space. With operations in Australia, the United States, Europe, Singapore, the Middle East and New Zealand, EOS has been designing and manufacturing precision technologies for more than four decades.
In defence, EOS is a leader in remote weapon systems, with more than 2,500 delivered and proven in operational service with allied forces. The company designs, develops and manufactures highly accurate counter-drone solutions for force and asset protection. These include both kinetic and high energy laser options that defeat drone threats effectively and at a comparatively low cost per shot. In August 2025, EOS secured the world’s first export contract for a 100 kW-class high energy laser weapon, with delivery scheduled between 2025 and 2028.
In the space domain, EOS is internationally recognised for its expertise in space domain awareness and space control. Its ground-based optical systems track and characterise satellites and debris to support both defence and commercial operations worldwide. Through its New Zealand subsidiary, EOS also designs and manufactures precision optics for space and astronomy applications.
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