Leonardo advances ALE capability and outlines flight-test plans

Published on February 10, 2023

Italy-based defense company Leonardo hopes later this year to deploy ‘air-launched effects’ (ALE) from a wildcat helicopter. ALE involves swarms of uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs) collaborating autonomously to perform intelligence, reconnaissance, and surveillance (ISR), search and rescue, and even attack missions.

Leonardo has already tested software relevant to collaborative drone capabilities with Anduril Industries. Drone-to-aircraft coordination, flight maneuvers, waypoints, loiter positions, and command and control were among the capabilities trialed. Leonardo is also looking to break ground by using ALE as part of an aircraft’s defensive aids suite (DAS).

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