British Army
UK's land warfare branch; primary operator of Watchkeeper UAV being replaced by Project Corvus.
Last refreshed: 29 May 2026 · Appears in 1 active topic
Timeline for British Army
UK launches Apache drone wingman trial
Drones: Industry & DefenceUK tenders GBP 130M Watchkeeper swap
Drones: Industry & Defence- What drones does the British Army use?
- The British Army's primary tactical UAV is the Watchkeeper WK450, which is being replaced via the Project Corvus competitive tender (GBP 130-156M, 2026). The Army is also the end user for the Project NYX Apache loyal-wingman programme, targeting an operational variant by 2030.Source: Lowdown drones-industry-defence Update 10
- How many soldiers are in the British Army?
- The British Army has approximately 73,000 regular personnel, plus a significant reserve component.Source: Lowdown drones-industry-defence
Background
The British Army is the United Kingdom's land warfare service, with approximately 73,000 regular personnel and a significant reserve component. It operates under Army HQ at Andover and is organised into combat brigades, including the 1st (UK) Armoured Division and 3rd (UK) Division. The British Army is the primary operator of the Watchkeeper WK450 tactical UAV and the designated end user for its Project Corvus replacement, tendered in May 2026 at a value of GBP 130-156 million.
The British Army has been an active user of drone systems since the Hermes 450 deployments in Afghanistan from 2007. Watchkeeper's in-service delays Left the Army without a purpose-built tactical UAV for years, relying on leased systems and commercial-off-the-shelf alternatives. The Army is also a participant in Project NYX, the Apache loyal-wingman assessment, through BAE Systems' selection as one of four assessment-phase companies. Under the UK's £4 billion autonomous systems commitment, the British Army is the largest prospective domestic end-user of new British drone capability.