Anduril UK and GKN Aerospace enter UAV capabilities partnership

Above: SVP Technology Anduril Shane Arnott and GKN Aerospace CEO Peter Dilnot.
Courtesy GKN Aerospace

The partnership will target key UK contracts expected in early 2026, delivering modern capability while reinforcing the UK’s sovereign industrial base.

The signing ceremony took place at GKN Aerospace’s Cowes facility on 9th December. Isle of Wight West Member of Parliament Richard Quigley attended the event to emphasize the importance of such partnerships for the UK’s manufacturing sector and support the potential for more than 100 new jobs on the Island through the future work packages.

The agreement is the latest in a series of more than 100 suppliers that Anduril has in the UK.

Through this partnership, GKN Aerospace will become Anduril UK’s airframe manufacturing and electrical integration partner for future programmes. Headquartered in the UK, GKN Aerospace has over 265 years of industrial heritage, supplying products and services to commercial and military aircraft and engine contractors. GKN Aerospace already employs nearly 1,000 people at its site in Cowes. This partnership will act as a catalyst for further growth and possible job creation related to emerging, autonomous markets.

The partnership with GKN Aerospace follows a series of other agreements that Anduril UK has signed with a range of partners and suppliers from across the UK industrial base. These include companies such as Atom Performance Technologies, Flarebright, Olsen Actuators and Isembard, all of which play a vital role in the development and enhancement of the UK’s defence and resilience. Anduril UK’s supply chain supports an estimated 50,000 UK jobs, with significant room for growth as the company continues to build on its work in the UK and pursue additional sovereign development opportunities.

In addition to powering the existing British industrial base, Anduril’s team will bring advanced capabilities and additional investment, job creation, and competition into the UK market. Archer Aviation will also collaborate with GKN Aerospace and Anduril UK, bringing the latest advancements in eVTOL aircraft development and hybrid propulsion to meet the British Army’s 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, the team underscores Anduril UK’s commitment to supplying the UK Armed Forces with advanced capabilities that enhance the safety and effectiveness of British service personnel on the front lines.

Rich Drake, Managing Director of Anduril UK, 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.”

Dave Bond, Senior Vice President of Defence Technology for GKN Aerospace, said: “This is an extremely exciting partnership, combining cutting edge technologies and world-class industrial capabilities. 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.” 

Make UK Defence Director-General Andrew Kinniburgh said: “As the UK’s leading champion for the defence supply chain, we are big believers in our world leading sector – delivering innovation and economic growth across the UK.

“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.

“It’s vital that we turn the Defence Industrial Strategy’s commitment to back UK based businesses into a reality, ensuring that defence spending is directed first to our world class defence industrial base in the UK and delivering UK economic growth.”

Richard Quigley, MP for Isle of Wight West, said: “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. Partnerships like this help ensure our region remains at the forefront of cutting-edge industry and it goes hand in hand with the work I am already doing with GKN and other Island employers to create opportunities for school leavers. I warmly welcome the opportunities it will create for our community.”