The UK Ministry of Defence has shortlisted four companies to develop autonomous drone wingmen for the British Army’s AH-64E Apache helicopters under Project NYX. The selected firms — Anduril UK, BAE Systems, Tekever, and Thales — will develop concepts for drones capable of reconnaissance, strike, target acquisition, and suppression missions alongside crewed helicopters. The project aims to improve battlefield survivability and operational flexibility through AI-enabled autonomy and reduced reliance on manned systems. The drones are expected to feature vertical take-off and landing capability and carry payloads exceeding 200 kilograms. Two finalists will eventually progress to prototype development before a potential operational system enters service by 2030. The initiative highlights the UK’s increasing investment in next-generation autonomous combat systems and future battlefield integration technologies.
