British Army selects four NYX teams

Britain’s Ministry of Defence said on May 15 that it had selected Anduril Industries (UK), BAE Systems Operations, Tekever and Thales UK for the next phase of Project NYX, an Army programme to develop autonomous drones to fly alongside AH-64E Apache attack helicopters. The ministry said the effort carries £10 million in funding at this stage and is aimed at producing uncrewed aircraft that can support reconnaissance, precision strike, target acquisition and electronic warfare missions. The four companies were chosen from a field of seven that had been advanced in January. The ministry said a final partner will be chosen later in 2026 after further assessment. ### Which four teams made the cut? The four selected companies are Anduril Industries (UK) Ltd, BAE Systems Operations Ltd, Tekever Ltd and Thales UK Ltd, according to the ministry’s May 15 statement. The ministry said their bids include different uncrewed air system designs with varying autonomy approaches, payloads and sensor packages. (gov.uk) January 24 was the earlier milestone in the competition, when the MoD said seven companies had been invited to submit designs for the programme. That earlier shortlist also included Leonardo MW, Lockheed Martin UK and Syos Aerospace UK, which did not make the latest down-select. Breaking Defense reported that BAE is working with Certo Aerospace on its proposal. (gov.uk) Thales said in February that it was pursuing Project NYX with Schiebel, while Anduril UK has said it teamed with GKN Aerospace and Archer Aviation for its bid. ### What exactly is Project NYX trying to build? Project NYX is the Army’s concept demonstrator programme for what the procurement notice calls a Land Autonomous Collaborative Platform. (gov.uk) The tender notice published in November 2025 said the Army wanted an uncrewed air system that could pair with the Apache AH-64E and operate in a highly autonomous, “commanded not controlled” manner. (breakingdefense.com) The missions listed by the MoD and the tender documents are broader than surveillance alone. The aircraft are being scoped for reconnaissance, target acquisition, strike, countermeasure defeat, integration with launched effects and electronic warfare in contested airspace. The ministry said the drones will be fully autonomous in operation, while keeping a human in the loop for weapons release. “All decisions which result in the use of weapons will continue to be made by a human,” the May 15 statement said. (find-tender.service.gov.uk) ### Why is the Army pairing them with Apaches instead of replacing helicopters? (gov.uk) The procurement documents describe the aircraft as companions to the Apache rather than substitutes for it. The November 2025 notice said the platform is meant to increase the lethality and survivability of the crewed helicopter while carrying a smaller logistics and maintenance burden than the crewed aircraft. (gov.uk) Luke Pollard, Britain’s minister for defence readiness and industry, said in January that the drones would make the Army “more effective and lethal” by improving its ability to strike, survive and win on the battlefield. In the May 15 release, Pollard said the government was investing in capabilities the armed forces would need “to stay ahead of our adversaries.” (find-tender.service.gov.uk) ### How far along is the programme now? The current phase is still research and development rather than production. The tender notice said the first phase is a Capability Concept Demonstrator intended to prove the Land ACP concept and integrate autonomy software and aircraft hardware with existing MoD systems, including Apache, for test and evaluation. (gov.uk) May 15 marked the move from seven shortlisted bidders to four funded competitors. The MoD said it will work with those four over the coming months, then take as many as two into the next phase before choosing one final partner later this year. Breaking Defense reported the ministry’s stated aim is to field an operational variant by 2030 if the prototype designs succeed. (find-tender.service.gov.uk) ### What should readers watch next? Later in 2026 is the next named decision point. The MoD said it intends to assess the four selected designs over the coming months, narrow the field to up to two contenders and then choose a final partner for the next stage. The 2030 target is the clearest public date beyond that. Breaking Defense, citing the ministry’s statement, said the goal is to field an operational variant by 2030 if the demonstrator and prototype phases are successful. (gov.uk) (breakingdefense.com)