AWHERO

AWHero is a military-grade tactical rotary unmanned aerial system developed by Leonardo, leveraging decades of expertise in rotorcraft design and system integration. The platform combines Leonardo’s core technologies across air platforms, sensors, data links, data processing, cyber security and mission systems into a modular, mission-oriented architecture.

Certified under STANAG 4702, AWHero is the only military-certified UAS in its class, ensuring compliance with Military Airworthiness Authority requirements and delivering high levels of reliability, availability and mission effectiveness for military and para-public operators.

The system’s dual high-capacity payload bays (nose and underbelly) enable rapid reconfiguration with a wide range of sensors, including Maritime Radar, EO/IR, SIGINT, LIDAR, hyperspectral sensors, AIS and communication relay payloads. This flexibility allows AWHero to perform a broad spectrum of roles such as ISTAR, ASW, Electronic Warfare, border protection, force protection, combat support and communications relay.

Designed from the outset for contested and degraded environments, AWHero integrates enhanced cyber resilience, encrypted dual-redundant data links, anti-jamming GNSS and GNSS-out flight modes. Its wide-band MeshNet networking enables real-time dissemination of sensor data to naval, land and air assets, ensuring persistent situational awareness.

Optimised for naval operations, AWHero supports fully automatic deck take-off and landing without personnel on deck, foldable blades, deck lock systems and seamless integration with ship combat management systems, extending detection horizons and commanders’ decision-making capability.