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Leonardo’s Proteus structural tests “nearing completion” ahead of first flight

30th June 2025 - 17:04 GMT | by Lucy Powell in London, UK

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The Proteus demonstrator aircraft is still on track for its first flight in 2025. (Photo: Leonardo UK)

The company has tested over 15 mission sets for the drone, with the rotorcraft used to demonstrate the viability of armed forces utilising large uncrewed aerial systems’ (UAS) for autonomous missions in the future.

Leonardo’s technology demonstrator programme, Proteus, is progressing “in line” for flight tests to happen by its 2025 target, according to the company.

Updating Shephard on the demonstrator’s progress so far ahead of its previously stated mid-2025 first flight, Mike Roberts, marketing manager at Leonardo Helicopters UK said that the structural tests for the aircraft were “nearing completion” ahead of flight tests.

“Third quarter or fourth quarter. We’re in line for later this year,” Roberts said. “We’re nearing completion of the build and it’s undergoing test and evaluation phase in Yeovil”.

In 2022, Leonardo was awarded a four-year contract worth

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