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UK Army to retire Watchkeeper drones, replacing with up to 24 new surveillance UAVs by 2029
The British Ministry of Defence plans to invest £310 million in Project Corvus to deliver a next-generation uncrewed aerial system for long-range surveillance and reconnaissance.
The gist
Up to 24 advanced surveillance drones will succeed the British Army's aging Watchkeepers by 2029 under Project Corvus.
The United Kingdom's Ministry of Defence (MoD) has announced plans to replace the British Army’s aging Watchkeeper drones with up to 24 new surveillance unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) by 2029. Detailed in the recently published Defence Investment Plan (DIP), this project, known as Project Corvus, is part of a £310 million investment in enhancing long-range surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities.
The Watchkeeper system, derived from the Elbit Systems Hermes 450 tactical UAS platform, has been in service for over 14 years and was deemed outdated by the MoD in a 2024 announcement. At that time, the fleet comprised 46 operational vehicles, with technology advances rendering them less effective for current operational demands. To avoid operational gaps, a limited capability continues until the replacement drones come into service.
Currently, Watchkeeper drones are operated under a contract with the UTacS consortium, an Elbit Systems UK affiliate, scheduled to continue until 2027. The transition to the new surveillance drones aims to maintain continuous reconnaissance effectiveness at the tactical and operational levels. The emphasis is on modernizing forces amid evolving military threats and technology landscapes.
In addition to Project Corvus, the Defence Investment Plan allocates £220 million towards Project Nyx, an ambitious program to demonstrate autonomous armed drone operations in conjunction with the British Army’s Boeing AH-64E Apache attack helicopters. Expected to culminate by 2030, Nyx plans to deliver up to 24 armed autonomous drones capable of augmenting crewed helicopters.
The MoD has engaged several industry contenders for the Nyx effort, with four shortlisted companies: Anduril Industries, BAE Systems partnered with Certo Aerospace, Tekever, and Thales UK. These firms will participate in forthcoming demonstrations aiming to validate the integration of autonomous drones into complex manned-unmanned teaming scenarios.
Further investments within the DIP target air-launched effects worth £50 million, including swarms of small drones deployable from a variety of manned and unmanned aircraft, enhancing force multiplier effects and operational versatility. Additionally, £210 million is earmarked for developing low-cost, long-range one-way munitions and attack drones, addressing the need for scalable offensive capabilities.
The MoD also plans £310 million for establishing a new Uncrewed Systems Centre to coordinate drone development and deployment efforts across industry, partners, and allied nations. This follows the recent opening of the DroneTEX facility in Swindon, designed to accelerate capability development to meet contemporary operational requirements.
Industry observers have praised the investment plans, referencing the significance of uncrewed systems demonstrated in recent conflicts such as Ukraine and the Middle East. Sam Vye, chief executive of Syos Aerospace, emphasizes how high volumes of uncrewed drones working alongside traditional forces are pivotal to modern warfare and national security, helping position the UK’s armed forces among the most advanced globally.
Syos Aerospace, a player in the unmanned rotorcraft market with production capabilities in the UK and New Zealand, illustrates the growing industry focus aligned with government priorities. The DIP’s funding reinforces the UK's commitment towards maintaining technological edge and operational effectiveness through autonomous and remotely piloted aerial systems.
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