GKN Aerospace, Anduril and eVTOL-aircraft developer Archer are to partner on developing the next generation of military drones for the UK’s armed forces.
The deal between aerospace firm GKN and military UAV company Anduril covers working together on the drone’s composite aerostructures, the design and integration of the Electrical Wiring Interconnection System (EWIS), the development of a ground-based demonstrator, and flight testing.
The partnership will target UK military contracts expected to be announced in early 2026, the Land Autonomous Collaborative Platform (ACP) drone contract and the British Army’s Project NYX for a next-generation uncrewed rotorcraft
US-based Archer Aviation is also part of the deal, and will work with GKN and Anduril on Project NYX, lending its eVTOL aircraft and hybrid propulsion knowledge. GKN will lead the structural design and integration work.
The partnership was announced this week at a signing ceremony at GKN’s factory in Cowes, UK.
GKN said that much of the work would be delivered from the Cowes site, which employs around 1,000 people and in 2019 received a £10 million (US$7.5 million) investment which upgraded its cleanrooms, processing equipment and training facilities. Winning the drone contracts could create more than 100 new jobs, it added
Dave Bond, senior vice president of defence technology for GKN Aerospace said, “By combining GKN Aerospace’s manufacturing and integration expertise with Anduril’s defence technologies, we can offer an industry-leading solution for the UK Army in rapid time.”
Adam Goldstein, CEO and founder of Archer said, “With Archer’s eVTOL and rotorcraft technologies, Anduril’s autonomy, and GKN Aerospace’s industrial capability working as one, we have a team that can deliver the next generation of advanced aviation for the UK.”
Rich Drake, managing director of Anduril Industries UK said, “We are excited to be working with such an established and trusted partner in British manufacturing.”
