AgustaWestland has announced the completion of a demonstration of its Rotorcraft Unmanned Aerial System / Optionally Piloted Helicopter (RUAS/OPH) to the Italian Ministry of Defence. The trials were conducted to evaluate modern remote controlled rotorcraft technology and its potential to provide enhanced capabilities for the Italian armed forces in the future.
Under the Research and Development contract, that is included in in the National Military Research Plan, signed with the Italian Ministry of Defence (MoD) Directorate for Air Armaments the company successfully demonstrated ground station-based remote controlled capabilities for the modified SW-4 Solo RUAS/OPH single-engine helicopter.
The basic aircraft has been developed as a result of close cooperation between AgustaWestland and PZL-Swidnik in Poland.
Source: Press Release