LONDON - Skyeton Prevail Solutions, an Anglo-Ukrainian joint venture, is scheduling additional UK demonstrations for its Raybird uncrewed aerial vehicle (UAV) following a successful deployment during the British Army’s recent Iron Titan exercise.

Operating on the Salisbury Plain Training Area, the 23kg (50 lb) Raybird demonstrated rapid deployment capabilities, launching from a cold start in under 25 minutes and successfully identifying high-priority targets while remaining undetected. The platform, which has already logged over 350,000 combat hours in the Ukraine war, is slated for further flight operations in the first half of 2026 to support Ministry of Defence training and showcase an expanded array of payloads, including synthetic aperture radar and gliding munitions.

These maneuvers position the joint venture as a strong contender for the UK’s forthcoming Corvus requirement, a program aimed at replacing the Thales Watchkeeper for the British Army’s "Land Tactical Deep Find" surveillance needs. Facilitated by training provider Soteria, Skyeton Prevail’s participation highlights its bid for the contract, which could be awarded as early as May 2026. Should the bid prove successful, the company has committed to establishing a manufacturing facility in Plymouth to produce the Raybird for both domestic and export markets, with site negotiations currently underway.

Source: Flightglobal
Associated URL: https://www.flightglobal.com/military-uavs/skyeton-prevail-plans-further-raybird-uav-demonstrations-after-iron-titan-exercise-success/165650.article
Author: Dominic Perry 

WASHINGTON - A final version of the FY26 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) was released on Monday. The House passed the bill Wednesday by a vote of 312-112, with 94 Democrats and 18 Republicans voting against the bill. The Senate is expected to vote on the bill next week

The bill adds $8 billion for national security in FY26, bringing the topline to $900.6 billion, a figure that includes defense-related spending outside of the Pentagon. The portion of the budget specifically for the Pentagon totals $855.7 billion, which is $7.5 billion higher than the $848.2 billion in base budget funding requested by the administration.

Lawmakers added $12.7 billion for developing and buying new military equipment. The bill provides $161.7 billion for procurement, reflecting an increase of $8.9 billion above the request. The legislation also includes $145.7 billion for research and development, which is $3.7 billion more than requested. Those plus-ups are partially offset by a $4.1 billion cut to operation & maintenance and a $1.5 billion cut for personnel.

Previous House and Senate markups from earlier in the year differed significantly to their approach to the defense budget. The House wanted to keep funding in line with the request, while the Senate recommended adding over $30 billion to the budget. Conference negotiations did result in a larger budget, but the topline fell well short of the Senate's original proposal, which would have added $18.2 billion for procurement and $8.5 billion for research and development.

While the NDAA includes recommended funding levels, congressional appropriators have the final say on how much funding the Pentagon will receive. The government is currently operating under a continuing resolution (CR) through January. It remains to be seen if lawmakers will come to an agreement on FY26 appropriations in time, or if the government will face another CR or even a second shutdown.

Meanwhile, the NDAA addresses concerns about the administration's cooling relationship with Europe, limiting troop withdrawals from the continent and providing $400 million for the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative. The bill also places limits on troop withdrawal from South Korea.

House and Senate Armed Services Committee leaders released the following joint statement:

"We’re pleased to announce that the House and Senate Armed Services Committees have reached a bipartisan, bicameral agreement on the FY26 NDAA that supports our servicemembers and strengthens our national defense. We’ve worked together to deliver the most significant acquisition reforms in a generation-cutting red tape, accelerating decision-making, and improving our ability to get modern capabilities into the hands of our troops on time and on budget.

"We urge our colleagues to pass the FY26 NDAA quickly so these vital reforms can begin delivering results for our men and women in uniform."

Source: Forecast International
Associated URL: https://armedservices.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=6359
Author: s. mcDougall, Defense Analyst 

LONDON, UK - Anduril UK has signed a new partnership with GKN Aerospace to support the British Army’s Project NYX and the MOD’s Land Autonomous Collaborative Platform program. The agreement also creates further opportunities at GKN’s Isle of Wight site and adds to Anduril’s expanding network of UK industry partners. Under the arrangement, GKN Aerospace will take on airframe production and electrical integration for Project NYX and future initiatives, helping drive long-term investment and potential job growth in emerging autonomous sectors.

This collaboration builds on a series of recent UK partnerships with companies such as Atom Performance Technologies, Flarebright, Olsen Actuators and Isembard. Archer Aviation will also contribute, bringing its eVTOL and hybrid-propulsion expertise to support Army needs. With Anduril serving as the systems integrator and GKN Aerospace leading airframe and electrical work, the combined team aims to bolster the UK’s industrial base and deliver advanced capabilities to improve the effectiveness of the British Armed Forces.

Source: Anduril
Associated URL: https://www.anduril.com/news/anduril-uk-deepens-partnerships-with-uk-industry-for-british-army-s-project-nyx