Timeline for Thales UK Ltd
Joined HII's team as a British subcontractor
Autonomous Systems: Land & Sea: UK picks HII at £303m; tender said £125mselected for Project NYX Apache loyal-wingman assessment phase
Drones: Industry & Defence: UK launches Apache drone wingman trialMentioned in: UK tenders £130M Watchkeeper swap
Drones: Industry & DefenceBackground
Thales UK is one of five British subcontractors named on the UK's £303m Mine Hunting Capability Block 2 award to HII Unmanned Systems on 3 November 2026. It already holds the programme's Remote Command Centre integration contract.
The company is the British subsidiary of the French group Thales, with its headquarters at Green Park in Reading, opened in 2018. In 2026 the Ministry of Defence picked it as one of four firms for Project NYX, the Apache loyal-wingman drone assessment.
On MHC Block 2 the vehicles come from Massachusetts, while Thales UK and the other subcontractors carry the British share in sonar, software and parts.
What is Thales UK's role in the Royal Navy mine-hunting drone programme?
Where is Thales UK's headquarters?
Who owns Thales UK?
Written with AI from Lowdown's published reporting. Not individually reviewed by an editor. Updated 8 November 2026. Editorial standards.