DSEI 2025: STRIX British Drone Merging Precision Strike with Extended ISR Capabilities.

At the DSEI 2025 exhibition in London, BAE Systems UK presented STRIX, a next-generation uncrewed air system that reflects the evolution of armed drones toward more versatile capabilities. This presentation follows the continuity of a project initiated in Australia by BAE Systems Australia and the company Innovaero. The program was officially unveiled at the Avalon 2023 airshow by Ben Hudson, Chief Executive Officer of BAE Systems Australia, marking the first step of this development.
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 At DSEI 2025, scale models of the RAZER missile were displayed alongside the drone, highlighting the intended complementarity of the two systems (Picture source: Army Recognition)

STRIX is the first armed vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) drone designed and manufactured in Australia. The partnership combines BAE Systems’ global expertise in autonomous platforms and vehicle management system technology with Innovaero’s experience in aeronautical design and rapid prototyping. From the announcement in 2023, Ben Hudson underlined that STRIX relied on proven technologies, providing a capability designed to be adaptable and upgradeable in response to emerging threats.

This drone features a hybrid tandem-wing configuration intended to perform multiple roles on the battlefield. STRIX is designed to conduct precision air-to-ground strikes as well as intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) missions. It could also act as a “loyal wingman” supporting military helicopters, providing additional protection for aircrews. Its VTOL capability allows it to take off without a runway and be launched from a ship or a helicopter, broadening its potential deployment in constrained environments.

The platform can carry up to 160 kilograms of payload over a range of 800 kilometers. When collapsed, its footprint of 2.6 meters by 4.5 meters allows it to be transported in a standard 20-foot container. Its hybrid-electric propulsion provides flexibility between hovering and fixed-wing flight. BAE Systems officials have stated that STRIX could be ready for operational service as early as 2026, with a prototype already under development.

Armament is a central component of the program. STRIX is designed to accommodate various munitions already in use by Australian and British forces. At DSEI 2025, scale models of the RAZER missile were displayed alongside the drone, highlighting the intended complementarity of the two systems. RAZER is a low-cost precision-guided munition designed to convert a conventional 40 to 50-kilogram bomb into a guided weapon. The system consists of a modular kit including wings, tail assembly, and a GPS/INS navigation unit, enabling its deployment from an uncrewed combat aerial vehicle or a helicopter.

Ben Hudson explained that by offering a locally developed, affordable munition adapted to operational needs, RAZER could meet growing demand in both domestic and overseas markets. The weapon aims to fill a gap between inexpensive, short-range land-based systems and costly, long-range air-launched systems. Its integration with STRIX opens the way for a drone–munition combination intended to expand the range of precision strike options available to armed forces.

The program also carries an industrial dimension. STRIX and RAZER are expected to strengthen Australia’s defense sovereignty by drawing on domestic expertise and involving small and medium-sized enterprises as well as academia in development, testing, and production. BAE Systems has already applied the STRIX vehicle management system in other programs, including the automation of the M113 armored vehicle and the MQ-28 Ghost Bat drone.

At the same time, BAE Systems continues its work on autonomous platforms through other projects, such as the T-650 eVTOL developed in the United Kingdom with Malloy. The company also builds on its previous experience with demonstrators such as Taranis and Mantis to consolidate its role in future multi-domain operations.

The presentation of STRIX in London illustrates BAE Systems UK’s strategy of promoting a project developed in Australia that is intended to become an operational capability within a short timeframe. The combination of the STRIX drone and the RAZER munition confirms a trend toward integrated, flexible, and modular solutions designed to adapt to the requirements of future combat environments. The proliferation of such armed systems underlines the growing role of drones in contemporary military doctrines and in defense industrial chains, spanning the United Kingdom, Australia, and international partners.

Written By Erwan Halna du Fretay - Defense Analyst, Army Recognition Group
Erwan Halna du Fretay is a graduate of a Master’s degree in International Relations and has experience in the study of conflicts and global arms transfers. His research interests lie in security and strategic studies, particularly the dynamics of the defense industry, the evolution of military technologies, and the strategic transformation of armed forces, with a strong focus on multilateral cooperation and geopolitics.