Leonardo to work on RWUAS CCD Phase 2
Leonardo UK will work on the Rotary Wing Unmanned Air System, Capability Concept Demonstrator (RWUAS CCD) Phase 2 programme under a contract with the UK Ministry of Defence announced on 28 February.
The two-year jointly funded research and development contract includes work on identifying, developing and exploiting the opportunities offered by emerging technologies, to reduce costs and increase the agility, flexibility, resilience and persistence of national military equipment and capability in the rotary wing arena.
RWUAS CCD Phase 2 follows the first phase of the programme, carried out between 2013 and 2015, completing activities carried out and extending them to undertake further research, development, analysis and experimentation relating to rotary winged air-vehicle technologies and rotary wing platform operations. Work will be applied to future operating environments, fleet mixes and the overall defence aviation capability structure.
Leonardo will work with the MoD's Defence Equipment and Support office on the programme, to mature and develop understanding of advance technology, overall system design and operational capabilities to enable embarked, unmanned rotary wing aircraft operations.
Mauro Moretti, chief executive officer and general manager, Leonardo, said: 'This is an exciting time as the opportunities presented by unmanned technologies start to be realised in the vertical take-off and landing sector. These technologies and systems can be a game changer in terms of undertaking a wide range of autonomous operations at a significantly lower cost.'
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