Blog

In a strategic leap for UK defense and aerospace tech, European missile giant MBDA announced in April 2025, its investment in British uncrewed aerial vehicle (UAV) business Hydra Drones, marking one of its first UK small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) deals. The partnership marks a deeper alignment between major defense contractors and agile tech disruptors, in line with the UK’s evolving industrial strategy.
 

Founded in 2019, UK-based Hydra is developing future-ready heavy-lift drones powered by hybrid jet-electric technology. MBDA, a European missile consortium backed by BAE Systems, Airbus, and Leonardo, supplies the UK with advanced systems such as the Storm Shadow and Brimstone missiles. Its recent investment supports the Hydra 400, a versatile UAV capable of carrying weapons, cargo, or casualty evacuation pods.

With this move, MBDA takes a stake in Hydra, forming a partnership to combine its defense systems with Hydra’s drone engineering capabilities—underscoring its commitment to advancing UK-led innovation.

According to Hydra Drones, MBDA’s investment allows the company to enhance UK security capabilities while supporting local skilled jobs. Such domestic tech partnerships ease reliance on overseas suppliers and build a resilient, agile defense supply chain management.

Meanwhile, MBDA said the move reflects its focus on innovation and sovereign capability. Supporting cutting-edge UK SMEs is seen as key to improving operational efficiency, shaping future military ecosystems, and strengthening strategic advantage in a complex global security landscape.

About the Hydra 400

The Hydra 400 is a next-generation heavy-lift UAV that employs a hybrid system of electric rotors combined with compact jet turbines for efficient flight. Its modular design enables easy transport on a flatbed truck and rapid assembly on site. The drone’s flexible configurations support full electric or hybrid operation, featuring system integration with a variable number of jet engines ranging from two to six.

Other notable features include:

• Heavy-lift power

The Hydra 400 can transport payloads weighing up to 400 kilograms and, when deployed in groups, can deliver firepower comparable to that of an Apache helicopter. A solid product design and development stage assured its heavy-lift capacity, allowing it to be equipped with a wide range of armaments, from precision laser-guided Brimstone missiles to heavy machine guns. The drone could also expand its role from combat to casualty evacuation.

• Strike power

MBDA and Hydra Drones have been steadily strengthening their collaboration, particularly after Hydra's newest drone drew significant interest at the 2023 Defense and Security Equipment International (DSEI) event. The Hydra 400, presented alongside a display featuring three Brimstone missile replicas, stood out as a potential game-changer in rapid-launch drone capabilities. Brimstone, a 50-kilogram laser-guided missile designed by MBDA, is renowned for its precision—boasting a 98% hit rate and a range of up to 20 miles.

• Quick launch

Speed and adaptability are at the core of the Hydra 400’s manufacturing and engineering design. Compact enough to be transported in a vehicle, it can be assembled and launched in just six minutes, offering rapid deployment in dynamic environments. With a full payload, it delivers 25 minutes of flight time, with greater endurance possible under lighter loads.

• AI compatibility

Built for modern combat scenarios, the drone can operate without GPS by using AI-powered sensors to stay on course in signal-denied conditions. It pairs manufacturing excellence with advanced AI integration, working alongside systems like Anduril’s Ghost Drone for real-time surveillance and multi-mission reconnaissance.

• Affordability

Designed with cost-efficiency in mind, the Hydra 400 is considered affordable enough for widespread use without compromising capability. Its lower price point supports scalable deployment across a range of missions, making it a practical choice for modern armed forces.

Transforming modern warfare

With the military landscape increasingly shaped by heavy-lift drones, the Hydra 400 arrives at a pivotal juncture. Demonstrated in conflicts like Ukraine, these drones deliver munitions with precision and speed. Leveraging advanced manufacturing technologies in engineering, the Hydra 400 combines a 400 kg lift capacity with rapid deployment, offering a cost-effective and flexible alternative to traditional helicopters.

Advanced camera vision technology is powering ultra-low-light AI systems that perform in near-total darkness. Modules like Star-Navi’s XHC5602 Series capture vivid color images at night, crucial for drone surveillance, autonomous vehicles, and security. This capability enhances operations in challenging settings such as the Russo-Ukraine conflict by transforming night scenes into daylight-like clarity.

Experts suggest that a fleet of five Hydra drones could deliver firepower equivalent to an Apache helicopter, minimizing risks to personnel. These diesel-electric drones can also complement manned aircraft across diverse missions. Designed for modularity, the Hydra’s power scales by adding jets, while its compact design allows troops to quickly pack and transport it during operations.

Still, challenges persist, including the Hydra’s bulky size and noise, which increase its vulnerability to counterattacks like explosive medium-caliber shells and precision sniper shots, tactics reportedly used by Russian forces against comparable drones in Ukraine’s conflict zone.

Strengthening UKs precision machinery in defense

The Hydra platform also reflects broader shifts in global defense priorities, echoing developments like India’s major procurement of Rafale-M fighter jets from France.

If trials proceed as planned and receive approval from the UK Ministry of Defense, the Hydra 400 could enter active service by 2031. Its versatility makes it suitable for a variety of mission profiles, potentially transforming how joint air operations are conducted. This flexibility showcases the drone’s value not just as a weapon system but as a vital tool for complex, evolving defense needs.

As testing continues and the Hydra 400 edges closer to active service, it signals a shift toward a future where nimble, autonomous systems become central to modern defense planning. Following rigorous mechanical tests, the platform is proving its ability to blend cutting-edge design with practical battlefield readiness—ushering in a new era of smart, scalable military solutions.

This development underscores a broader shift toward autonomous systems and AI-enhanced tools that are increasingly influencing battlefield strategies, supply chain efficiency, and frontline decision-making.

With adaptability built into its design, the Hydra 400 demonstrates how forward-thinking engineering can deliver efficient, mission-ready tools that meet evolving defense demands.

At the same time, its development reflects the strength of collaboration between industry pioneers and defense stakeholders. The Hydra 400 doesn’t just point to where warfare is heading—it embodies the spirit of innovation, reinforced by thorough mechanical evaluation, that will define the next generation of military technology.


As one of the Top 20 EMS companies in the world, IMI has over 40 years of experience in providing electronics manufacturing and technology solutions. 

We are ready to support your business on a global scale.

Our proven technical expertise, worldwide reach, and vast experience in high-growth and emerging markets make us the ideal global manufacturing solutions partner. 

Let's work together to build our future today.