UK to acquire £30 million worth of New Zealand-made drones to support Ukraine.

On April 22, 2025, British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer hosted New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon at 10 Downing Street. The two leaders had earlier jointly visited Operation Interflex, where Ukrainian troops are being trained by UK and New Zealand personnel. During the meeting, both sides emphasised the continued importance of long-term support for Ukraine and confirmed their countries' cooperation within the framework of the Coalition of the Willing. Prime Minister Starmer noted New Zealand’s ongoing participation and stated that planning efforts across land, air, regeneration, and maritime domains were progressing.
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The New Zealand company SYOS Aerospace proposes the SA5 UAS, a vertical take-off and landing drone in the sub-25kg category powered by a proprietary 4-stroke gasoline engine. (Picture source: SYOS)

Just before this visit, the UK Prime Minister's Office announced future UK contracts worth £30 million for uncrewed systems manufactured by SYOS Aerospace, a New Zealand company operating out of Hampshire. These drones will be provided to support Ukraine. This procurement forms part of the UK’s assistance package and reflects an area of bilateral industrial cooperation. Prime Minister Starmer also welcomed New Zealand’s recent increase in defence expenditure, and both leaders discussed the broader connection between defence investment, national economic security, and household-level economic outcomes.

SYOS Aerospace produces a family of autonomous uncrewed systems including aerial (UAS), surface (USV), and ground (UGV) platforms. Among these is the SA5 UAS, a vertical take-off and landing drone in the sub-25kg category powered by a proprietary 4-stroke gasoline engine. It provides 8 to 10 hours of endurance. The SA5 integrates SYOS’ AAIMS system for swarm operations, and uses MuV-NaP for GNSS-denied navigation based on optical flow or visual cues. It can operate without preloaded maps and estimate its position using ground movement, functioning in day or night conditions. It is intended for ISR tasks in land and maritime domains, with the ability to land on moving vessels.

The SA200 UAS is another aerial system produced by SYOS. It is an uncrewed helicopter with a 200kg payload capacity and a base range of 230km. With an optional extended fuel tank, it can reach nearly 1000km and operate for more than 8 hours. Designed for ISR, EW, and logistical resupply, the SA200 incorporates aviation-grade and military-standard components. It features anti-jamming and data encryption measures to operate in environments where counter-UAS systems are present.

The SG400 UGV is a 6×6 uncrewed ground vehicle with optional track configurations. It has a payload capacity of 500kg and a maximum range of 230km. It is designed for autonomous operations in logistics, ISR, and route clearance. When equipped with the AAIMS system, the SG400 supports swarm coordination and uses computer vision-based navigation. Communications for beyond-visual-line-of-sight operations include RF, LTE, and satellite links with encryption and up to 16-channel CRPA GNSS.

The SM300 USV is a maritime platform with a payload capacity of 300kg and a range of up to 650 nautical miles. It is used for ISR, EW, signal rebroadcasting, and cargo delivery. Autonomy features include AI-enabled mission planning, computer vision with automatic target tracking, and an interface that allows operator control through a ground control station. Navigation capabilities include CRPA GNSS, satellite communications, visual navigation, and dead reckoning, with the ability to estimate its own position within swarms. SYOS offers integration of the SM300’s autonomy suite into existing surface vessels.

Beyond defence and procurement matters, the two leaders also discussed broader regional issues, particularly the Indo-Pacific. They agreed on the need for coordinated efforts to support stability and address hostile activities in the region. In terms of trade, both welcomed the strong commercial ties between the UK and New Zealand and noted the UK’s recent accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). They concluded their meeting with a commitment to continued engagement and coordination on mutual interests.