UK shortlists seven companies for Apache CCA contract

The UK Ministry of Defence (UK MoD) has shortlisted seven companies to develop Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) designs to operate alongside British Army AH-64E Apache attack helicopters. The UK ordered 50 Apaches in 2024 and all have been delivered.

Under the UK MoD’s Project NYX, seven industry partners have been invited to bring forward their designs for the CCAs. The seven shortlisted companies are: Anduril, BAE Systems, Leonardo, Lockheed Martin UK, Syos, Tekever and Thales.

The Invitation to Tender follows a pre-qualification phase that concluded late in 2025. In March 2026 the shortlist will be further down selected to four suppliers, who will be offered contracts to participate in R&D to produce a concept demonstrator, with initial operational capability targeted for 2030. The UK magazine Flight International says the CCAs will need to carry a payload of more than 250kg at the crewed helicopter’s 150kt maximum speed and roughly 500km range.

The program, says the UK MoD, is an innovative approach to work alongside industry to advance development of the CCAs, or Uncrewed Aerial Systems (UAS), to operate alongside Apache attack helicopters.

“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,” said Luke Pollard, the UK Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry.

When completed the CCAs will be able to function as ‘loyal wingmen,’ working alongside crewed Apache attack helicopters to perform a variety of complex tasks such as reconnaissance and surveillance in contested areas, strike and target acquisition and electronic warfare.

Australia ordered 29 AH-64E Apache attack helicopters in 2023 and has received the first of them – the remainder will be delivered by 2029. It’s not clear whether or not these aircraft will be equipped to operate CCA-type ‘loyal wingmen’ and, if so, whether Australia’s push to mirror the US Army’s AH-64E configuration will mean Australia adopts a US CCA or one from one of the other two AUKUS nations.

Through its Strategic Defence Review, the UK is pivoting to a new way of war, says the MoD. By harnessing new technology the UK Armed Forces will increasingly utilise uncrewed and autonomous capabilities to generate mass and lethality, it says. Project NYX is delivery of that work in action, capitalising on the power of UASs, AI and autonomy to complement the ‘heavy metal’ of tanks and artillery.

The UASs will operate on a ‘command rather than control’ principle, says the MoD, utilising AI for independent decision-making – being able to adjust to complex battlefield situations within the bounds of mission parameters. The MoD says they will enhance lethality, survivability, and mission effectiveness while reducing the risk and logistical burden for human-operated systems.