Anduril, Archer, partners test dual-use eVTOL aircraft in UK

Anduril Industries UK announced it would lead a team for upcoming programmes, including bids for future flight opportunities. Building on its existing partnership with aerospace company Archer, Anduril UK received additional support from Skyports Drone Services and AtkinsRéalis, two other leading technology companies. Together, Anduril and its partners explored civil and defence applications in the UK using Archer’s Midnight eVTOL aircraft. This included beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) operations, enabling low-emission, rapid-response logistics to support a wide range of UK-focused civil and military use cases, including cargo.

Anduril served as the lead systems integrator, incorporating software-defined mission autonomy, communications, and command-and-control systems tailored for UK operational needs. Archer acted as the platform provider, adapting its Midnight platform for dual-use applications and continuing its collaboration with Anduril on the planned hybrid aircraft. This also marked Anduril’s introduction of Archer’s VTOL technologies to the UK market, furthering investment, job creation, and competition to strengthen the UK’s aviation and defence capabilities, reinforcing Anduril UK’s commitment to UK Defence and broader economic growth. The group also continued work on Archer and Anduril’s previously announced hybrid-propulsion VTOL aircraft. This approach to air system design and development was supported by AtkinsRéalis’ deep expertise in safely and efficiently incorporating novel aviation technologies into UK airspace. AtkinsRéalis was recently appointed as the Civil Aviation Authority’s (CAA) first approved assessor of commercial drones.

Skyports Drone Services complemented this with its extensive operational experience, having delivered numerous BVLOS campaigns for major clients, including the NHS and Royal Mail. In 2024, it participated in The Royal Navy Heavy Lift Challenge, demonstrating the efficacy of dual-use aircraft. By combining the latest advancements in eVTOL aircraft development, software-defined systems integration, regulatory expertise, and operational delivery, the team positioned itself to support the UK’s ambition to become a global leader in aviation technologies.

Dr. Rich Drake, Managing Director of Anduril UK, said, “The UK had clear ambitions both for innovation and growth, as well as to maintain its leadership in advanced air mobility. This partnership brought together Archer’s leading eVTOL technology, Skyports’ infrastructure expertise and AtkinsRéalis’ safety systems to support future flight projects, accelerating VTOL and BVLOS developments. It also unlocked opportunities in defence and civil domains, including rapid, low-emission urban transport and surveillance capabilities. Introducing Archer to the UK, alongside experienced local partners, marked a step forward in delivering integrated air mobility.”

Verity Richardson, Head of Business Development, UK, at Archer, said, “This team marked the next phase of our partnership with Anduril. There was an incredible amount of opportunity in the UK and worldwide to deploy dual-use advanced aircraft, and we looked forward to making it a reality.”

Alex Brown, Director of Skyports Drone Services, said, “The UK Government made strong progress in enabling permanent BVLOS drone operations, so partnering with Anduril and Archer was a natural step as we onboarded more advanced aircraft and increased our payload and range capabilities. Our first cargo project laid the groundwork for other valuable applications, such as surveillance and search and rescue.”

David Clark, Global Head of Aerospace & Defence at AtkinsRéalis, said, “Leveraging our experience in novel aircraft design and emerging regulatory frameworks, AtkinsRéalis supported the team in safely integrating automated uncrewed aircraft into UK skies. The combination of local expertise with investment from industry leaders like Archer and Anduril strengthened the UK's position at the forefront of the future of flight.”

Anduril UK’s software-focused approach to product development enabled it to deploy new systems on compressed timelines, fielding several dual-use military capabilities — most notably, providing the Ghost autonomous uncrewed air system to the UK MOD. The programme further demonstrated Anduril UK’s commitment to engineering and manufacturing scalable technologies in the UK, building on existing approaches and driving further investment and job creation. Over the past two years, AtkinsRéalis and Skyports demonstrated the feasibility of an eVTOL ecosystem in the UK as members of the Advanced Mobility Ecosystem Consortium, supported by the Future Flight Challenge Phase 3. The consortium developed key technologies and infrastructure while exploring critical aspects of the passenger journey, vehicle operation, airspace navigation, ground charging, and local stakeholder engagement.

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