Contract awardedFind a TenderDrones

BVLOS Drone Operationalisation

National Grid
London
Direct award
8 July 2025 to 31 March 2026

Development of autonomous drone capabilities to enable routine beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) operations across the national electricity transmission network. The project focuses on scaling existing autonomous flight systems to improve network monitoring and inspection efficiency through advanced drone technology integration.

Open the official notice

Awarded value: £22.9m; As published
Published: 22 May 2025; Find a Tender
Awarded: 22 May 2025; sees.ai Limited
Contract length: 9 months; Ends 31 March 2026

What the buyer is asking for

Development and scaling of autonomous drone technology to support routine beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) operations for utility infrastructure.

Lifecycle

Publishedon Find a Tender
22 May 2025
Contract awardedto sees.ai Limited
22 May 2025
Contract starts
8 July 2025
Contract ends
31 March 2026

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See the drones market: prices, buyers and who wins →

The buyer

Type: Other public body
Drones contracts, 24 months: 1
Open drones tenders: 0
Typical drones contract: £22.9m

See everything National Grid buys →

How it compares

325× the typical drones contract (£71k).

Cite this contract

Link: https://bidskim.com/tender/322261/bvlos-drone-operationalisation
Buyer reference: Not published
Open contracting ID: ocds-h6vhtk-051f03
Source: Find a Tender
Last checked: 12 October 2026

National Grid. BVLOS Drone Operationalisation. Contract award, 22 May 2025. BidSkim, https://bidskim.com/tender/322261/bvlos-drone-operationalisation (accessed 12 October 2026).