Leonardo to equip Proteus uncrewed helicopter with Shield AI Hivemind for autonomous maritime missions. (opens in a new tab)
Leonardo and Shield AI signed an agreement on October 29, 2026, to integrate Shield AI’s Hivemind autonomy software into Leonardo’s Proteus uncrewed helicopter for the UK Royal Navy. The Proteus, a three-tonne aircraft developed under a £60 million UK Ministry of Defence programme, completed its maiden flight in January 2026 and is designed for anti-submarine warfare, ISR, and contested logistics missions. The Hivemind SDK will enable customized AI decision-making for these operations while Leonardo retains intellectual property rights. No integration timeline, test dates, or production orders have been disclosed.