- The UK Ministry of Defence selected SYOS Aerospace and six other firms to develop wingman drone prototypes for Apache helicopters under Project NYX.
- SYOS CEO Sam Vye said the company will advance autonomous uncrewed systems designed to operate alongside crewed attack helicopters in combat missions.
The UK Ministry of Defence has confirmed that SYOS Aerospace has been selected to advance to the next stage of Project NYX, a program to develop “wingman drones” designed to operate alongside British Army Apache attack helicopters, the MOD announced last week.
The selection places SYOS Aerospace alongside major defense firms invited to submit prototype designs for uncrewed aircraft intended to fly in close coordination with crewed helicopters during combat missions. The companies selected are Anduril, BAE Systems, Leonardo, Lockheed Martin UK, SYOS Aerospace, Tekever, and Thales, according to the Ministry of Defence.
Reacting to the decision, SYOS Aerospace CEO and founder Sam Vye said the company’s inclusion reflects both the MOD’s approach to working with industry and SYOS’s focus on operational autonomy.
“We are thrilled to advance to the next stage of Project NYX, which is an innovative approach by the Ministry of Defence to work with industry partners to develop Uncrewed Air Systems (UAS) to operate alongside Apache attack helicopters,” Vye said.
“It’s great recognition of a young British company leading the way in autonomous uncrewed vehicles – we’re proud to be advancing with some of the global defence primes,” he added. “The project’s purpose aligns with why SYOS exists and how we work – to partner with customers and end users to build real-world autonomy that solves hard operational challenges and pushes the edge of technology innovation.”
Project NYX is part of the UK government’s Strategic Defence Review and is intended to accelerate the introduction of autonomous systems into frontline British Army aviation. The MOD has described the initiative as a step toward integrating uncrewed aircraft directly into combat formations, with drones operating as extensions of crewed platforms rather than as separate assets.
According to the Ministry of Defence, the wingman drones will be designed to support Apache helicopters in contested environments, performing tasks such as reconnaissance, sensing, and mission support while reducing risk to aircrews. Detailed technical requirements have not been made public, but the MOD has said the program focuses on rapid development and early prototyping.
SYOS Aerospace develops autonomous systems across air, land, sea, and underwater domains and operates facilities in the United Kingdom and New Zealand. The company also maintains an operational support presence in Ukraine, where its systems have been used in active field conditions, providing direct feedback for development and refinement.
The company’s uncrewed air systems portfolio includes the SA200, a production-ready heavy-lift uncrewed helicopter designed for high-endurance missions. SYOS said the platform reflects its emphasis on building systems that can be adapted quickly based on end-user requirements and operational feedback.
Vye said that approach aligns directly with the goals of Project NYX. “We work shoulder to shoulder with customers and end users in field, prototyping fast, testing and iterating at pace, and hardening systems through real-world front-line use, never sacrificing performance or adding needless complexity,” he said.
“With a highly skilled and growing team, and a strengthening UK supply chain, we’re ready to meet the NYX mission,” he added.
Announcing the shortlist, Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry Luke Pollard MP said Project NYX represents a core element of the Defence Industrial Strategy. “Project NYX represents the cutting edge of the Defence Industrial Strategy, working with leading British industry partners to ensure the UK remains at the forefront of autonomous military technology,” he said.
The Apache helicopter remains a key element of British Army combat aviation, and the MOD has said future operations will rely on closer integration between crewed and uncrewed systems. Project NYX is intended to test those concepts through direct industry collaboration rather than traditional long procurement cycles.
The next phase of the program will see companies submit detailed designs for assessment, with the MOD expected to down-select proposals for further development and testing.