The government has announced a £60 million contract which has been awarded to uncrewed aircraft developer Leonardo.

The money, to be dished out over four years, will be spent on designing and developing an uncrewed helicopter.

The government said that the company will test the viability of larger uncrewed aircraft for the Royal Navy, the three-tonne demonstrator – less than a fifth of the weight of a Merlin helicopter - which could "provide an innovative alternative to existing aircraft for tracking adversary submarines".

Trials will test the capability of the aircraft to drop “sonobuoys” – small tube-shaped buoys that track and communicate submarine activity – enabling the aircraft to alert a crewed helicopter and call for support if a submarine is located.

The move is expected to support up to 100 high skilled jobs at the company’s Yeovil site.

“The global threat is changing, and it is crucial we remain at the forefront of defence innovation,” said minister for defence procurement, Jeremy Quin. “Exploring cutting-edge, new defence capabilities through programmes with key British manufacturers, will help to ensure our Armed Forces are equipped to deal with the latest threats.”

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