What WholeShip does

WholeShip Ltd is a UK-based specialist that operates the National Drone Hub at Predannack Airfield in Cornwall, providing independent test and evaluation (T&E) services for drones and associated technologies. The facility combines a 320-hectare airfield with four runways, five hangars, and access to over 8,000 square kilometres of segregated MoD airspace from surface to 55,000 feet, making it suitable for BVLOS flight testing, ordnance and electronic warfare trials, and certification work. The hub is the UK's first CAA-accredited BVLOS Pre-assessed Test Site, an accreditation that reduces approval times for drone manufacturers by up to three months.

The company's product portfolio comprises three core offerings: the National Drone Hub itself (facility and airspace access), SADIE (Ship-Air Digital Integration Equipment) — a fully instrumented trailer with a 6-axis motion flight deck that replicates ship motion and wind environments for maritime drone integration trials — and SORA (Specific Operational Risk Assessment) generation services. A Live-Virtual-Constructive (LVC) capability is planned for 2026 to broaden testing into simulated and constructive environments. Customers are concentrated in the defence and aerospace sector, including the Royal Navy, Lockheed Martin, Leonardo Helicopters, Nova Systems, the UK Ministry of Defence, the CAA, and NATO allies.

WholeShip generates revenue through professional services tied to facility access, test expertise, and trial execution, distributed via direct enterprise engagement rather than disclosed pricing. Pricing is not publicly disclosed, and the company operates with a 1–10 person headcount despite over £5m of internal capital deployed into aviation, office, and analysis facilities. Strategic positioning is anchored by a December 2025 MOU with the Royal Navy to develop the Maritime UAS Centre of Excellence and the hosting of high-profile trials such as Leonardo's PROTEUS first flight and Lockheed Martin's MDCX autonomy demonstration.

Name

WholeShip

Legal name

WholeShip Ltd

Website

https://wholeship.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

WholeShip operates the UK's National Drone Hub at Predannack Airfield, providing independent drone test and evaluation, BVLOS certification, and ship-air integration services to defence primes, the Royal Navy, NATO allies, and drone manufacturers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Aerospace Testing Services

NAICS

Airport Operations (48811), Other Support Activities for Air Transportation (488190)

SIC

Airports, Flying Fields & Airport Terminal Services (4581), Aircraft (3721)

akta.pro primary industry

UAS Ground Control Stations (GCS) & Remote Operations Infrastructure (IMABAIAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Private Aviation Terminals & FBO Services (THABAFAH), Avionics Test, Simulation & Calibration Equipment (IMABAFAN)

Keywords

• Drone testing services
• Flight test evaluation
• UAS test airspace
• Ship aviation integration
• Drone risk assessment

Headquarters

HQ city

Helston

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Infrastructure, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Test & Evaluation Services: WholeShip provides facility access, expertise, and airspace for independent testing and evaluation of drones and associated technologies for manufacturers and defense organizations
2. SADIE Ship-Air Integration Trials: Conducts complex trials for maritime drone operations including Ship-Helicopter Operating Limits (SHOLS) development using the SADIE motion platform
3. SORA Generation Services: Expert team assists customers in generating Specific Operational Risk Assessments for their air systems at the CAA accredited test site

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

WholeShip operates the National Drone Hub at Predannack Airfield in Cornwall, providing dedicated unmanned aerial system Test & Evaluation services supported by the proprietary SADIE 6-axis motion flight deck for ship-air integration trials. The company also delivers Specific Operational Risk Assessment (SORA) generation for BVLOS operations and is a CAA-accredited BVLOS test site serving defence customers, UAS manufacturers, and regulators.

Product overview

WholeShip operates as a unified platform for drone Test & Evaluation services, combining physical infrastructure with specialized testing capabilities. The core offering is the National Drone Hub, providing facilities, expertise and access to over 8,000 square kilometres of segregated airspace in Cornwall. Supporting this is SADIE (Ship-Air Digital Integration Equipment), a mobile flight deck for maritime drone integration testing, and SORA services for regulatory risk assessment. The portfolio enables BVLOS testing, Ship-Air Integration trials, and upcoming Live-Virtual-Constructive capabilities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• National Drone Hub: The UK's leading facility for independent Test & Evaluation of drones and associated technologies, providing facilities, expertise and access to over 8000 square kilometres of segregated airspace.
• SADIE
• SORA

Products and services

• National Drone Hub Drone test facility operated by WholeShip at Predannack Airfield in Cornwall, providing segregated airspace, runway access, and supporting infrastructure for unmanned aerial system Test & Evaluation. Used by defence customers, UAS manufacturers, and regulators for prototype trials, certification work, and capability demonstrations.
• SADIE (Ship-Air Digital Integration Equipment) A proprietary 6-axis motion flight deck designed to simulate ship motion for ship-air integration trials. Used to evaluate the launch and recovery of unmanned aerial systems from moving platforms under realistic maritime conditions. Targeted at defence and UAS manufacturer customers developing or qualifying ship-borne drone operations.
• SORA Generation Service Specific Operational Risk Assessment (SORA) generation service supporting BVLOS drone operations. Delivered at WholeShip's CAA-accredited BVLOS test site and aimed at operators and manufacturers seeking documented risk assessments for regulatory approval of BVLOS flight.

Quantifiable outcome

• CAA accreditation reduces approval time for drone manufacturers to test air systems by up to 3 months
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.

• Royal NavyflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2025WholeShip signed an MOU with Royal Navy in December 2025 to deepen the relationship and develop the Royal Navy Maritime UAS Centre of Excellence (MarUAS CofE) aligned with UK and allied industry at the National Drone Hub. The partnership aims to harness emerging technology to lead in hybrid navy capability generation.
• Leonardo HelicopterscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLeonardo Helicopters conducted first flight of PROTEUS Rotary Wing Uncrewed Air System (RWUAS) Technology Demonstrator at WholeShip's National Drone Hub on 10 January 2026, marking British aviation history.
• Lockheed MartincoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLockheed Martin successfully completed a live demonstration of its MDCX autonomy platform, multiple UAS classes, and Vigilance Mission and Sensor management system at WholeShip's National Drone Hub in December 2025.
• Nova SystemscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWholeShip and Nova Systems jointly completed a trial for the Royal Navy to explore new ways to rapidly develop Ship-Helicopter Operating Limits (SHOLS).
• UK Ministry of DefenceflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe National Drone Hub is operated by WholeShip in partnership with the Royal Navy utilizing MoD airspace to accelerate drone development and support UK industry.
• Civil Aviation Authority (CAA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCAA accredited WholeShip's National Drone Hub as the UK's first BVLOS Pre-assessed Test Site for drones, facilitating rapid Test & Evaluation and reducing approval times for manufacturers by up to 3 months.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Cranfield Aerospace / Cranfield University: UK aerospace research university with its own airfield and UAV test capabilities. Comparable as a UK institution offering UAS test and evaluation infrastructure and airspace to industry and government, competing for the same T&E budgets.
• QinetiQ: UK-headquartered defence testing and evaluation services company operating large ranges and aerospace test facilities. Comparable to WholeShip as a competing UK-based T&E provider for defence and aerospace customers, though at far greater scale and across a much broader portfolio.
• Dstl (Defence Science and Technology Laboratory): UK Ministry of Defence's science and technology organisation that runs and commissions defence experimentation including UAS trials. Comparable as a UK defence customer/partner for advanced UAS testing, though operates as a government body rather than a commercial provider.
• Thales UK: Major UK defence prime with significant aerospace and autonomous systems capabilities, including test and evaluation work. Comparable as a large incumbent that competes for defence T&E programmes and has the scale to host or specify its own test infrastructure.
• Saab: Swedish defence and aerospace company that operates its own test ranges and UAS/air system development programmes. Comparable as a defence prime with vertically integrated test infrastructure and a focus on autonomous and uncrewed systems relevant to WholeShip's customer base.
• Anduril Industries: US-based defence technology company developing autonomy, UAS, and counter-UAS systems, with significant internal flight test capabilities. Comparable as a buyer and developer of advanced UAS autonomy testing and as a competitor for marquee defence UAS programmes.

Emerging players

• Near Earth Autonomy: US-based autonomy company focused on autonomous flight for rotorcraft and UAS, including ship-based operations. Comparable as a participant in maritime UAS integration R&D and testing, and a potential customer/partner for WholeShip's SADIE-style capabilities.
• Draganfly: Commercial drone manufacturer and services provider with drone test and operational deployments across defence and public safety. Comparable as a customer for UAS test ranges and as a small-cap peer competing in the same defence/government UAS end markets.

Regional players

• Mass (Maritime Autonomy Surface Testbed) / Royal Navy autonomy programmes: UK Royal Navy-led maritime autonomy testbed programmes evaluating uncrewed surface and air systems. Comparable as a UK maritime UAS integration programme that WholeShip supports and competes with for funding and customer mindshare.

Direct peers

• Nova Systems: Engineering and testing services company that has jointly executed Royal Navy Ship-Helicopter Operating Limits trials with WholeShip. Comparable as a direct services partner/competitor offering maritime aviation testing and certification support to the same UK defence customers.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/wholeship-limited
• Instagraminstagram.com/nationaldronehub

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about WholeShip