UK’s Ministry of Defence Enlists Leonardo to Help With Development of Unmanned Helicopters
Leonardo has been awarded a contract from the United Kingdom’s Ministry of Defence (MoD), to research and develop a Rotary Wing UAS Capability Concept Demonstrator (RWUAS CCD Phase 2).
The MoD’s Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S) Technology Office placed the two year, jointly funded Research and Development contract for the UAS with the global high tech company headquartered in Italy.
“This is an exciting time as the opportunities presented by unmanned technologies start to be realized in the vertical take-off and landing sector,” says Mauro Moretti, Chief Executive Officer and General Manager at Leonardo, via press release.
“These technologies and systems can be a game changer in terms of undertaking a wide range of autonomous operations at a significantly lower cost.”
Through this partnership between the two entities, they hope to offer the national military better rotary wing aircrafts, by utilizing emerging technologies, reducing costs, and increasing the persistence, resilience, agility, and flexibility of future aircrafts, which is especially important for future, challenging operating environments.
Minister for Defence Procurement Harriett Baldwin says, “this two year £8m joint investment will sustain key high-skill jobs in Yeovil and is the next stage in understanding how unmanned air systems can keep our personnel safe on the battlefields of the future.”
RWUAS CCD Phase 2 will look to build off the findings of RWUAS CCD Phase 1, which took place between 2013 and 2015. Phase 2 will also look to draw lessons from demonstrations held at Unmanned Warrior in 2016.
