National Autonomy and Drone Innovation Centre launches at Westcott
A £2.25 million national drone testing centre, NADIC, has been unveiled to provide critical evidence for BVLOS regulatory approval.
The National Autonomy and Drone Innovation Centre was unveiled at the DroneX trade show in London, expanding existing test capabilities at Westcott Venture Park. Backed by £2.25 million from Buckinghamshire Council, NADIC aims to address a critical evidence gap holding back the UK's commercial drone industry.
Facility designed to solve critical gaps in drone testing and certification
NADIC will provide specialised test environments to support beyond-visual-line-of-sight operations and generate regulator-recognised safety evidence. Access to such facilities remains limited, particularly for smaller companies. The centre will include a position, navigation and timing lab to assess system performance when satellite signals are unavailable or manipulated.
A Satellite Communications Integration and Test Lab will validate drones across satellite, terrestrial and hybrid networks for long-distance flights. For environmental testing, a Windshaper system will generate precise, repeatable indoor wind conditions. A motion platform will recreate operations on moving vessels and uneven terrain.
The centre also features a Remote Operations Control Centre for training and mission simulation. A robotic arm will enable automated, repeatable drone testing. NADIC will sit alongside the Catapult’s Future Networks Development Centre at Westcott.
Phased rollout begins this autumn with full operation expected in 2027
Key components of the new national drone testing centre are set to become operational in the coming months. The robotic arm, motion platform and control room are expected to come online this autumn. The full NADIC facility is anticipated to be complete in the second half of 2027.
Backed by public funding to support SMEs and national drone economy goals
The centre primarily serves small and medium-sized companies and component builders. These firms develop the navigation, sensing, communications and autonomy systems the wider sector depends on. The government target is for routine BVLOS drone flight by 2027, a shift from the current regime where almost every commercial flight requires individual, time-limited authorisation.
The Civil Aviation Authority has stated that today’s bespoke approvals are not designed to support the volume of operations needed for widespread commercial use. Companies must prove with evidence that each specific operation is safe. Forecasts put the value of the UK drone economy at up to £45 billion by 2030.
Steven Broadbent, Leader of Buckinghamshire Council, said the Buckinghamshire Growth Fund was created to invest in projects that bring long-term value to the economy. John Abbott, Chief Executive Officer at the Satellite Applications Catapult, announced the investment on September 29, 2026. The robotic arm, motion platform and control room are expected to come online this autumn.
