GKN to build airframes for Anduril’s UK defense projects

Anduril UK has announced a new teaming agreement with GKN Aerospace to support the British Army’s Project NYX and the Ministry of Defence’s Land Autonomous Collaborative Platform initiative.

The partnership was formally revealed on December 9 in London.

According to the announcement, GKN Aerospace will become the airframe manufacturing partner for Anduril UK on Project NYX and other upcoming programs. The companies will also assess future opportunities for collaboration at GKN’s production facility on the Isle of Wight.

In a statement, Anduril UK Managing Director Rich Drake said, “This partnership with GKN Aerospace is an exciting next step in our journey to provide and deliver innovative, sovereign solutions to the UK MOD. As we work together to create novel solutions to continuously evolving threats, we are committed to utilising the full depth and breadth of British engineering talent to provide sovereign solutions to British service personnel.”

GKN Aerospace, a UK-headquartered defense and aerospace supplier with more than 265 years of industrial heritage, employs nearly 1,000 staff at its Cowes site. The partnership is expected to serve as a growth driver for GKN’s operations in autonomous systems, with potential for job creation tied to advanced manufacturing demands.

“This is an extremely exciting partnership, combining cutting edge technologies and world-class industrial capabilities,” said Dave Bond, Senior Vice President of Defence Technology at GKN Aerospace. “Together, GKN Aerospace and Anduril will bring all-new defence solutions to the field in rapid time. This is the start of a deep and strategic partnership and I look forward to collaborating with Anduril UK for many years to come.”

The Project NYX team also includes companies such as Atom Performance Technologies, Flarebright, Olsen Actuators, and Isembard, which contribute to system development and local UK supply chains. The supply chain supporting Project NYX is estimated to affect up to 50,000 jobs across the United Kingdom.

Additionally, Anduril UK confirmed that Archer Aviation would also participate in the partnership, bringing its experience in electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft and hybrid propulsion. These technologies are being considered to meet future British Army operational requirements.

“With Anduril as the lead systems integrator, GKN Aerospace as the airframe manufacturing partner, Archer’s eVTOL expertise, and many more domestic suppliers and partners, Anduril UK’s Project NYX team pairs the best of British innovation and manufacturing expertise with leading capabilities supported by global investment in enabling technologies,” the company said.

The agreement has also received public support from both industry and political representatives.

Andrew Kinniburgh, Director-General of Make UK Defence, stated: “Today’s announcement of Anduril and GKN Aerospace’s partnership is a vote of confidence in our growing sector; bringing together a legendary engineering business like GKN and a technology led business like Anduril lays the foundations for more highly skilled and well paid jobs in the Isle of Wight and across the UK.”

Richard Quigley, MP for Isle of Wight West, also welcomed the announcement, noting that “the partnership between GKN Aerospace and Anduril UK is exceptionally positive news for the Isle of Wight. It demonstrates that innovative, high-tech manufacturing and advanced defence capability are being developed right here, supporting local jobs and the growth of vital skills.”

GKN Aerospace is involved in several flagship international defense programs, including the F-35 Lightning II, C-130 Hercules, Apache AH-64, NH90, and AW101. The company maintains a presence in 12 countries and supplies structural components for both manned and unmanned platforms.