The UK Ministry of Defence has shortlisted four British firms for Project NYX, an initiative to develop autonomous drones for Apache helicopter crews. The project aims to create "loyal wingmen" that can support missions with reduced risk to personnel.
Shortlisted companies include Anduril, BAE, Tekever, and Thales
The shortlisted companies are Anduril Industries (UK) Ltd, BAE Systems Operations Ltd, Tekever Ltd, and Thales UK Ltd. The MoD has invested £10 million in these firms to advance the project. The drones are intended for reconnaissance, precision strike, target acquisition, and electronic warfare. They will not directly trigger weapons; a human decision will be required before any strike.
Winning prototypes are expected to be selected in fall 2026, with operational capability targeted by 2030.
The MoD stated that the drones will "increase lethality and survivability of the Apaches, while reducing risk to personnel." The project represents a milestone in integrating autonomous systems with military aviation.
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