Anduril to Manufacture Advanced Fighter Drones for the British Army on the Isle of Wight

US defence technology company Anduril is set to establish fighter drone production in the UK, with plans to manufacture advanced unmanned aircraft for the British Army on the Isle of Wight. The firm, founded by billionaire inventor Palmer Luckey, has agreed a partnership with GKN Aerospace that may see the construction of drone airframes in Cowes, subject to a formal contract with the Army.

This initiative forms part of the Ministry of Defence’s ambitions to integrate autonomous systems into military operations, particularly in tandem with manned Apache helicopters. Initial funding of up to £100 million has been earmarked for design development, with the Army evaluating multiple suppliers before awarding a contract in the coming year under its “Project Nyx” programme.

Anduril’s chief engineer, Shane Arnott, described the project as a pursuit of a completely original design. The prospective drone is categorised as a group five craft, signifying a large, long-range type capable of substantial payloads suitable for both reconnaissance and strike missions. The technology is intended to operate collaboratively with crewed Apache helicopters, conducting reconnaissance and missile strikes to reduce risk to human pilots.

If the initiative proceeds, it would represent Anduril’s first major production venture in the United Kingdom and a significant expansion of its current workforce, which already numbers around 90 in London. The company anticipates the drones could be operational within three years and notes the potential for international export.

The advanced drones would be produced alongside partners such as US-based Archer Aviation, which develops vertical take-off and landing aircraft. The agreement with GKN Aerospace, a division of the FTSE 100-listed Melrose, leverages British manufacturing expertise; GKN already supplies components for the F-35 fighter and Chinook helicopter programmes. The Cowes facility may also be utilised for the production of civilian aircraft, reflecting the wider push for British innovation in both defence and commercial aviation sectors.

The intensification of drone warfare in recent global conflicts, notably between Russia and Ukraine, has accelerated the British government’s commitment to autonomous military systems. Ministers have outlined plans to allocate substantial funding to maintain a technological advantage in this transformative area of defence.