Castlewellan St Malachy’s High School Students Reach RTX’s Quadcopter Challenge Final in 10th Anniversary Year
• Finalists will compete in London to take home the crown and £10,000
A team of students from St Malachy’s High School in Castlewellan is celebrating after earning a coveted spot in the national final of the RTX Quadcopter Challenge, an exciting STEM competition that’s inspiring the next generation of innovators and engineers.
Now marking its 10th anniversary, the challenge is the flagship STEM outreach programme from RTX, giving students across the UK the chance to design, build and fly their own quadcopters in a bid to be crowned national champions.
The team will travel to London to compete at the Honourable Artillery Company for the chance to be crowned the 2025 Quadcopter Challenge Champion and win £10,000 to support STEM initiatives at their school or cadet group.
The RTX Quadcopter Challenge is an annual competition designed to inspire the next generation of engineers and innovators.
Since its launch in 2015, the programme has engaged over 2,000 students from more than 200 schools and cadet teams across the UK. Participants work alongside engineers from RTX businesses including Raytheon UK and Collins Aerospace, gaining hands-on experience in design, problem-solving and teamwork.
This year, students were challenged to design a quadcopter that embodies community spirit and delivers a positive local impact.
The team from St Malachy’s High School rose to the challenge, developing a concept focussed on assisting rescue efforts in mountainside fires, with the potential to leave a lasting legacy in their community.
RTX is committed to advancing UK prosperity and fostering sovereign innovation in STEM. Through initiatives like the Quadcopter Challenge, the company continues to inspire young minds and support the development of future STEM leaders.
“Our flagship RTX Quadcopter Challenge has supported STEM leaders of tomorrow unlock their passion since 2015,” said James Gray, Chief Executive at Raytheon UK. “We are creating pathways for passionate young people to enter the British aerospace and defence sector.”
The final promises to be a celebration of creativity, engineering excellence and youth innovation, as teams from across the UK compete for the top prize and national recognition.
Find out more about the challenge here
About RTX in the UK
RTX’s businesses have been investing in the UK for more than 100 years. Its UK operations include Collins Aerospace, Pratt & Whitney and Raytheon UK.
The company supports hundreds of jobs in every region of the UK and has a strong presence across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, spanning over 30 locations.
As part of this investment, RTX supports with upskilling, training, people and technology, in order to ensure that we’re helping drive a secure and productive future for people across the UK.
