The Royal Navy is poised to test out its new robot helicopters designed to seek out enemy submarines next year after striking a ￡60million deal.

       The autonomous Proteus drone has been developed by Yeovil-based defence firm Leonardo.

       It weighs around three tonnes and is set to perform a range of complex functions to help the Royal Navy take out its enemy targets.

       That includes a “modular mission bay” slot, where a cabin would typically be placed, for different payloads that can be easily swapped out.

       This will allow it to carry out a range of different tactics set to advance the Navy's capabilities.

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       One includes dropping so-called “sonobuoys” to detect engine and propeller sounds underwater, leading its drones to enemy subs.

       Leonardo said: “The ability to plug in specific payloads for different missions aims to give commanders in the field a wide range of options from a single type of aircraft.

       “This is both operationally useful and delivers value for money by avoiding the need to buy and maintain multiple different fleets of aircraft.”

       The company unveiled the “demonstrator” design of the aircraft on Tuesday, with a flight test expected to take place in mid-2025.

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       The Navy handed Leonardo a four-year ￡60million contract to develop Proteus back in 2022.

       This is just the latest technology set to be added to the Royal Navy’s arsenal to bolster the country’s defences.

       In November, the Ministry of Defence announced a cutting-edge new SPEAR cruise missile following a successful test firing from a BAE Systems-operated Typhoon jet.

       The sophisticated missiles can hit targets from as far as 100km away, including enemy air defences, ships, tanks, defended structures and fast-moving vehicles.

       The weapons will be fitted to Britain’s F-35B fighter jets, allowing the army to hit targets both from land and Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers.

       Luke Pollard, Minister for the Armed Forces, said: “The successful trial of the pioneering SPEAR missile marks a significant leap forward in UK Armed Forces’ capabilities, ensuring our Royal Navy and Royal Air Force personnel are equipped with cutting-edge technology to protect our nation.

       “This achievement not only strengthens national defence capabilities but also boosts the UK economy, by supporting high-skilled jobs and innovation.”

       It comes as a former defence minister Tobias Ellwood warned this week that Britain’s air defences may not be capable of fending off a strike on the capital as Russia’s aircraft become more hostile while its weapons systems continue to advance.

       He wrote in an opinion piece for the Daily Mail: “The latest generation of long-range missiles now travel faster (moving to hypersonic speeds), often on a parabola that takes them to the edge of space. In salvos, that would simply overwhelm any aircraft response.

       “London is now vulnerable, as is every other city in the UK along with critical infrastructure such as airports and nuclear power stations.”