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The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) has taken a new step in the NYX Project by inviting seven companies — Anduril, BAE Systems, Leonardo, Lockheed Martin UK, SYOS Aerospace, Tekever, and Thales — to develop prototypes of “loyal wingman” drones designed to operate alongside the British Army’s AH-64E Apache attack helicopters.
The initiative aims to integrate Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) directly into combat formations, turning these drones into extensions of piloted aircraft, capable of performing reconnaissance, target acquisition, mission support, and electronic warfare in highly contested environments.
The program entered a new phase after pre-qualification was completed at the end of 2025, with a new selection planned for March that will narrow the participants down to four companies. The goal is to sign research and development contracts for concept demonstrators, aiming to achieve Initial Operational Capability (IOC) by 2030.
The MoD highlights that the project aligns with the UK’s Defence Strategic Review, which proposes a “new way of waging war,” based on the integration of manned platforms, autonomy, and artificial intelligence to enhance “mass and lethality” on the battlefield.
A key principle of the NYX Project is “command instead of control,” where drones will have a high degree of autonomy to operate even in scenarios of intense electromagnetic interference. Artificial intelligence will allow these aircraft to adjust their actions within the mission parameters, reducing the need for constant radio communication, thereby decreasing vulnerability to electronic jamming. This allows Apache crews to focus on critical tasks while overseeing the unmanned vehicles.
Among the selected companies, SYOS Aerospace highlighted that its experience with autonomous systems tested in real-world operational conditions, including in Ukraine, strengthens its ability to meet NYX’s requirements. The company is developing the SA200, a large-capacity unmanned helicopter, ready for production and designed for long-duration missions.
For the UK government, direct collaboration with industry at this early stage will accelerate testing, adjustments, and prototyping, avoiding the long traditional acquisition cycles and preparing the Apache to operate integrated with drones in future combat scenarios.
Source: The Aviationist / Defence Blog | Photo: X @ELMObrokenWings | This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team
British companies are building the future of defence.
Seven UK industry partners have been selected to develop prototype ‘wingman’ drones that will operate alongside Apache attack helicopters.
These autonomous systems will work alongside our Armed Forces to keep them safer on… pic.twitter.com/nMGMG9tVQc
— Ministry of Defence 🇬🇧 (@DefenceHQ) January 24, 2026
