The Ministry of Defence has confirmed that no decision has yet been made on how many Land Autonomous Collaborative Platforms could ultimately be procured to operate alongside the Army’s AH-64E Apache helicopters, as it set out the formal competition timeline for Project NYX.
Responding to a series of written questions from Conservative MP James Cartlidge, defence minister Luke Pollard said Project NYX is a demonstrator programme intended to validate the concept of a Land Autonomous Collaborative Platform, with procurement decisions to follow only after trials are complete.
Pollard confirmed that “no decision has been made on platform numbers; these will depend on evolving strategies and requirements”, adding that completion of the demonstrator phase will inform any future procurement.
The minister said the competition for Project NYX formally began on 28 November 2025 with the release of a Pre-Qualification Questionnaire. He confirmed that the Invitation to Tender will be issued in the week commencing 12 January 2026 and will close on 27 February 2026.
According to the answers, Project NYX is being run as a concept demonstrator, with public information available via the Defence Sourcing Portal and the Find a Tender service. Pollard said the programme will “inform future procurement”, with initial capability delivery currently expected from 2030.
Asked separately when the competition would open and close, Pollard reiterated the same timetable, underlining that the department is still in the early stages of the process. He also confirmed that no firm acquisition plan exists at this point, reflecting the experimental nature of the programme.
In response to a further question from Ben Obese-Jecty on whether the full scope of Project NYX would be published, Pollard again pointed to existing public tender documentation, indicating that additional detail would be provided through the competitive process rather than via ministerial statement.
No decisions on anything other than reviews or assessments. Every other country in NATO is beefing up its capabilities whilst we cut, dither, cut, procrastinate and form committees
Not even sure you need to make such a decision. Get plenty of all different types and make the decision on a mission by mission basis. This isn’t rocket science.
I think he was referring to the Article and It’s wording. 😁
But surely we are buying “Swarms” of them to go with our “vast fleets” of Apache’s so we can attack “En Masse” with multiple “One Way Effectors” and Cutting edge, world class “enablers” ?
🤔🙄🤦♂️
The MOD confirms that no decision has yet been made on ‘any thing’,
Now that’s not true. They had to make 2 or 3 billion of cuts in this years budget.
yes but we are not meant to know about that, thats why they keep going on about the up lift in defence, and other such pointless words.
Very wise. No point in making a decision when it can be put off for years while they have meetings deciding it’s too late to do anything.
🤣🤣 it is all getting very preditable and boring now! I think the only thing theve actually ordered now is 53 jackles in 18 months comedy!
I can envisage MBTs being equipped with drones too and housed on the turret. Packaging and size could be a limiting factor in determining how many each tank can carry; however, each drone could be controlled by the commander to perform reconnaissance and also act as a loitering countermeasure, thus enhancing survivability.