Mount Maunganui’s SYOS Aerospace has landed a £30 million contract to supply the UK with a fleet of drones.
“I’m delighted and proud that SYOS Aerospace has been trusted by the UK’s government to supply it with a new fleet of uncrewed vehicles,” the company’s CEO, Sam Vye, said. “This contract encapsulates the spirit of collaboration and innovation between the two countries.”
UK PM, Keir Starmer, confirmed the deal after meeting with Christopher Luxon to discuss defence and security ties. The two prime ministers were shown a range of SYOS vehicles by Vye.
Founded in New Zealand four years ago, SYOS is a drone and robotics technology company which also has a production facility in Fareham, England. It produces uncrewed vehicles for use on land, sea and in the air, in defence and civil operations.
The company has risen rapidly to become a leading supplier, Vye said.
“SYOS has dual roots in the UK and New Zealand, bringing together two nations known for innovation, resilience and a deep commitment to global security and sustainability. This is what rapid development, fast scale-up of mass manufacturing and future-ready industry partnership looks like.”
The company employs 50 engineers in the UK and a further 46 in New Zealand.
“Our team brings together decades of experience in defence, aerospace and engineering. Our purpose is clear: to equip operators with agile, reliable solutions that meet the needs of tomorrow, without exquisite price tags. Everything we do is born from a belief that uncrewed systems should be both adaptable and affordable.”
Working with end users, including governments, has been crucial to ensuring SYOS vehicles deliver on expectations, Vye said.
The company’s proprietary AAIMS architecture (Autonomy & Augmented Intelligence Mission System) software and hardware integration allows vehicles to be adapted to suit various requirements.
AAIMS’ modularity reduces training time, speeds deployment and permits updates as requirements evolve, Vye explains.
“We call it the heartbeat of SYOS because it connects every layer of what we deliver. It ensures our platforms remain relevant not just today, but well into the future. As the UK and New Zealand explore greater integration of autonomous systems, AAIMS… puts control and adaptability into the hands of the operator, exactly where it belongs.”
The sky’s no limit when it comes to potential applications for SYOS drones – they can aid with everything from firefighting to delivering supplies to ships, disaster relief and agricultural spraying.
“We want to remove pilots or operators from any operation that is dull, dirty, or dangerous in order to reduce risk and reduce cost, whether that’s in national security or civil applications,” Vye added. “Ultimately, the cost of uncrewed vehicles can be exceptionally lower than for traditional crewed vehicles in terms of purchase and operating costs.
“But it goes further than that – the use of robotics unlocks much greater capabilities for AI.”
