The UK has shortlisted four firms to develop drone designs intended to operate as wingmen for the British Army’s AH-64E Apache helicopters.
The UK Ministry of Defence has shortlisted four firms to develop drone designs intended to operate as wingmen for the British Army’s AH-64E Apache attack helicopters.
Anduril UK, BAE Systems, Tekever, and Thales will collectively receive 10 million pounds ($13.3 million) under the Project NYX concept demonstrator program.
The companies were down-selected from an initial group of seven firms invited in January to present concepts.
The proposed designs feature a range of uncrewed air systems offering varying levels of autonomy, payload configurations, and sensor suites. Each will be evaluated over the coming months, after which two finalists will be chosen in autumn 2026 for prototype designs.
Depending upon the success of the prototype designs, an operational variant will be fielded by 2030.
“This is British ingenuity at its best – cutting-edge drones working alongside Apache helicopters to give our soldiers an unbeatable advantage on the battlefield. The UK isn’t just keeping up with the future of warfare, we’re driving it,” UK Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry, Luke Pollard, said.
“This government said it would act with urgency to strengthen our defences and back British industry, and that is exactly what we are doing - investing now in the capabilities our Armed Forces will need to stay ahead of our adversaries and keep this country safe.”
Drone Wingman Project
The army’s aviation-focused initiative aims to pair the Apache attack helicopter with an unmanned platform capable of reconnaissance, target acquisition, strike, and countermeasure suppression missions, enhancing the crewed aircraft’s lethality and survivability.
Operating on a “command rather than control” model, the platform will leverage AI-enabled autonomy to independently respond to rapidly evolving battlefield conditions while staying within predefined mission parameters.
The uncrewed air system is expected to feature vertical take-off and landing capability and carry payloads exceeding 200 kilograms (441 pounds), along with the required support infrastructure and equipment.
The capability is also expected to deliver reduced costs, logistical footprint, and maintenance demands compared to crewed aircraft.
