It is often said that we are at a generational turning point – that single moment of revolution in military rotorcraft. In reality, future transformation won’t be defined by a single breakthrough; it will emerge from a series of critical decisions made collectively by the military and industry.
Currently, many military rotorcraft operators are facing challenges. In particular, many of the medium helicopter fleets across Europe are seeing increasing sustainment costs and are in need of upgrade or replacement. Aside from the financial challenge of replacing such assets, during an era of high spending demands and budgetary constraints, there are also technical and doctrinal challenges to address.
The nature of warfare is also evolving, with calls to respond with mass to overwhelm, as well as more exquisite fast rotorcraft to rapidly project force where it is needed. This will change how militaries fight and their operating doctrine.
How, therefore, do nations ensure replacement aircraft are future proof? Are we already at the point of transitioning to uncrewed and to what extent?
The end of crewed aviation?
Contrary to the suggestion by some evangelists that uncrewed systems will soon fully replace crewed rotorcraft, I believe that crewed aviation will remain essential over the coming decades. This is reflected by Leonardo’s portfolio of helicopters covering the spectrum of weight classes, for all civil and dual-use applications, as well as dedicated military platforms performing land and maritime combat roles.
However, as uncrewed systems continue to evolve, we do anticipate a shift towards a more balanced force mix. In the land domain particularly, the complexity of modern combat environments, the need for real-time decision making and the unpredictable nature of warfare lend themselves to human judgement.
What will change is how crewed platforms operate. By leveraging uncrewed drones and launched effects, crewed aircraft can extend their reach, improve situational awareness and reduce their risk exposure. Crewed aircraft will become central command and control nodes, making critical decisions and adapting to complex situations supported by technology.
Ultimately, the retention of some crewed platforms will enable a more resilient and adaptable force.
Integrating autonomy
Autonomy is no longer a futuristic concept. It is already being implemented on our platforms and is the key that will unlock the potential of military aviation, building on the integration of crewed and uncrewed systems.
By leveraging artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning and advanced automation, we can enhance operational effectiveness, reduce crew workload and increase survivability in complex contested and congested environments.
Modern battlefields generate more data than any single crew can manage. The capacity to process vast amounts of data in real time will enable crews to make faster, more informed decisions.
Autonomy on uncrewed systems will deliver force multiplication – a vital element in peer-to-peer conflict. Uncrewed systems have the capacity to go further, for longer, and undertake dangerous missions without risk to life, while crewed-uncrewed teaming with launched effects will provide a step change in the effect that can be delivered.
Moreover, with regard to force sustainment, AI-enabled predicative diagnostics will decrease downtime, optimise maintenance schedules and extend aircraft lifespan.
What are the challenges?
Before realising the potential of autonomy, we must address the challenges. Firstly, we must work with the regulators to overcome challenges with certification, including the use of simulation to validate autonomous functions. Secondly, the military must determine how these capabilities are integrated into concept of operations (ConOps) and doctrine. And thirdly, all stakeholders – including industry – need to collectively build trust in these platforms. These considerations will be part of shaping future requirements to move from demonstrations to programmes of record.
The question is not whether we embrace autonomy, but how far and how fast, recognising we are in a competition that we must win if we are to give our forces the edge they need.
Transforming Royal Navy’s maritime aviation
Responding to this question, the Royal Navy’s Maritime Aviation Transformation (MATx) strategy, published in early 2025, is a bold call to action for industry to support the Fleet Air Arm to transform to one that is digital by design and exploits a mix of crewed and uncrewed air systems in order to build mass, increase lethality and reduce the risk to people. It calls for an end state that is uncrewed where possible; crewed where necessary. This is a message we at Leonardo have heard loud and clear.
The Royal Navy’s Proteus programme is delivering the ambition of autonomy, with Leonardo developing a 3-tonne uncrewed technology demonstrator that is in final assembly in Yeovil, the Home of British Helicopters. A fundamental principle is that Proteus will be tasked by an operator, rather than flown by a pilot.
