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General Dynamics Land Systems-UK and ARX Robotics UK will explore integrating autonomous systems with Ajax to develop ‘wingman’ capabilities for the British Army, while supporting sovereign manufacturing and workforce development in the UK.
London, September 16, 2026 - ARX Robotics and General Dynamics Land Systems-United Kingdom (GDLS-UK) and launching a new collaboration to jointly explore the development of future crewed-uncrewed teaming capabilities for the British Army, including the potential for Ajax to command and control autonomous robotic ‘wingmen’ on the battlefield.
The companies will initially focus on integrating ARX Robotics’ Hector uncrewed ground vehicle with Ajax, exploring how autonomous systems can operate alongside crewed fighting vehicles to extend their reach, increase battlefield awareness and reduce the exposure of soldiers to risk.
The collaboration will also explore how GDLS-UK’s manufacturing and integration facilities in South Wales could support the production and scaling of future autonomous land systems in the UK.
The agreement brings together GDLS-UK’s expertise in complex, digitally enabled armoured land combat systems with ARX Robotics’ autonomous ground systems and software.
At the heart of the collaboration is a shared ambition to support the British Army's future operating concepts and the Chief of the General Staff's vision for a more integrated force in which crewed, uncrewed and autonomous systems work seamlessly together to deliver greater combat effectiveness.
Designed from the outset as one of the most advanced digitised land platforms in service, Ajax possesses the sensing, processing and command-and-control capabilities required to coordinate autonomous systems at the tactical edge. Through the integration of Hector with Ajax via Generic Vehicle Architecture (GVA), crews will be able to task, monitor and employ autonomous systems in support of reconnaissance, surveillance, protection, and combat operations.
The collaboration aligns with the Army's increasingly important focus on crewed-uncrewed teaming and the evolution towards force structures that combine traditional platforms with autonomous systems to deliver increased battlefield awareness, survivability, and operational reach.
Alongside capability development, GDLS-UK and ARX Robotics will explore industrial and skills cooperation to strengthen the UK workforce, supply chain and manufacturing capacity needed to produce, integrate and sustain autonomous land systems at scale.
The companies will explore opportunities across:
The work could draw on GDLS-UK’s established nationwide industrial footprint and skilled workforce in South Wales, while helping develop the manufacturing base required for a new generation of autonomous defence systems.
The collaboration supports the UK’s wider ambition to strengthen sovereign defence industrial capacity, accelerate the adoption of autonomous technologies and ensure that future land capabilities can be manufactured, integrated and sustained in Britain.
Scott Milne, Vice-President and General Manager, General Dynamics Land Systems-UK, said:
"The British Army's 20-40-40 vision is redefining how future combat power will be generated and applied, integrating crewed, uncrewed and autonomous systems into a single, connected force. Through our collaboration with ARX Robotics, we are exploring how Ajax can help realise that vision by combining its world-class sensing, processing and command-and-control capabilities with autonomous systems to extend battlefield reach, accelerate decision-making and deliver greater operational advantage.
At the heart of this opportunity is Ajax's open digital architecture, which provides an adaptable and future-ready backbone for the rapid integration of autonomous platforms, advanced sensors and emerging mission applications. This enables capability to evolve at the pace of technology, ensuring the British Army can continuously adapt, exploit innovation faster than its adversaries, and maintain a decisive battlefield advantage in an increasingly complex and contested operating environment."
David Roberts, Chief Executive Officer, ARX Robotics UK, said:
“The British Army does not need to choose between its existing platforms and the new generation of autonomous systems. The opportunity is to connect them so they fight as one integrated force with the right high-low mix.
“By combining Ajax with Hector autonomous wingmen, we can extend the reach and capability of crewed platforms while reducing the number of soldiers who need to be exposed to danger.
“Just as importantly, this collaboration is about building the industrial capacity and skills base to produce and support these systems here in Britain. If the UK wants to field autonomy at meaningful scale, it needs the sovereign manufacturing capability to match.”
About ARX Robotics
Founded in 2022, ARX Robotics is one of Europe’s leading developers of software-defined defence technologies, with a growing presence in the United Kingdom through ARX Robotics UK. The company enhances military capabilities through rapidly deployable unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) and modernizes legacy platforms with its AI-powered operating system, Mithra OS. ARX Robotics systems are deployed across several European armed forces and represent the largest Western-built UGV fleet currently deployed in Ukraine. Backed by the NATO Innovation Fund, ARX Robotics is investing £45 million in UK manufacturing and research and development, creating a sovereign industrial capability and strengthening the UK's defence innovation ecosystem through partnerships with leading British defence technology companies. The company is committed to developing technologies that enhance soldier protection and strengthen European sovereignty and defence readiness.
For more information, visit www.arx-robotics.com
For media inquiries, please contact: press@arx-robotics.com
About General Dynamics Land Systems-UK
GDLS-UK is one of the UK's leading defence manufacturers and a trusted partner to the British Army and the Ministry of Defence, with a presence in Britain dating back to 1962. Operating from its facilities in Merthyr Tydfil and Oakdale, South Wales, the company plays a key role in sustaining the UK's sovereign land systems capability, supporting the design, manufacture, integration and through-life support of advanced military vehicles.
Through significant investment in South Wales, GDLS-UK has helped revitalise the UK's armoured vehicle industrial base, creating and sustaining more than 700 highly skilled jobs. Its Ajax programme has supported over 4,100 jobs across the UK and strengthened defence supply chains nationwide.
The company is committed to developing future talent through partnerships with colleges, universities and apprenticeship programmes, helping to build a sustainable pipeline of engineering and manufacturing skills. By combining global expertise with UK-based capability, GDLS-UK supports national security while strengthening the resilience and prosperity of the UK's defence industry.
For more information, visit www.uk.gdls.com
For media inquiries, please contact: evelin.szalai@gdlsuk.com
ARX Robotics is a leading European defense-tech company developing Europe’s foremost unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs), the Gereon-RCS series, as well as Mithra OS - an AI-powered operating system that integrates autonomous and legacy platforms. ARX Robotics focuses on the digital transformation of land forces and the development of autonomous unmanned systems. With the ARX Robotic Framework - an approach that combines software-enabled hardware with a modular platform architecture - ARX leverages the potential of robotics and artificial intelligence to reshape the capabilities and capacities of land forces. In addition, ARX modernizes existing vehicle fleets with Mithra OS by integrating AI, sensor systems, and software-defined autonomy. ARX systems and technologies are deployed by several European armed forces and are in use in Ukraine. With strong technological expertise and a high level of innovation, ARX Robotics delivers solutions that maximize soldier protection and strengthen Europe’s strategic independence.
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