Q5D secures first U.S. Army contract to support sustainment and drone manufacturing capability
Bristol, UK, June 17, 2026: Q5D Technologies (Q5D), the UK robotics company specialising in automated wire harness production, has signed a partnership agreement with Molrix for delivery of three advanced wire harness manufacturing cells to the United States Army. Under the initial 20-month agreement, Q5D’s systems will provide a specialised wire harness automation capability designed to address manufacturing and sustainment bottlenecks not easily supported through traditional suppliers.
The agreement reflects growing military demand for faster, more adaptable manufacturing and repair capability as defence organisations face increasing pressure to sustain, upgrade and scale systems more quickly. Increasingly, militaries are prioritising scalable production, echeloned repair capability and more resilient domestic supply chains alongside traditional procurement approaches.
One system will be delivered in August 2026 in support of the Army’s SkyFoundry drone-manufacturing initiative, with two additional systems to follow in September 2026 for deployment at U.S. Army Materiel Command’s Tobyhanna Army Depot in Pennsylvania. There, they will support the manufacture and repair of complex wire harnesses for electronic systems, helping improve turnaround times for upgrades, overhaul and depot-level maintenance.
SkyFoundry is a major Army effort to accelerate the production of small unmanned aerial systems, aiming to reach a capacity of 10,000 drones per month this year and ultimately scaling to around one million units annually. The initiative forms part of a wider Army push to scale drone production, reduce reliance on foreign components and strengthen domestic manufacturing resilience as militaries rethink sustainment and repair capability in response to lessons from Ukraine and the rapid evolution of drone warfare. The announcement also follows growing focus in the U.S. on manufacturing sovereignty and military repair rights, as policymakers and defence leaders push for more agile domestic production capability.
“Modern defence increasingly depends on the ability to manufacture, repair and adapt systems quickly,” said Stephen Bennington, CEO at Q5D Technology. “Our systems are designed to help reduce manufacturing bottlenecks, improve repair turnaround times
and support more scalable sustainment capability across rapidly evolving production environments.”
Q5D’s robotic systems automate the manufacture and installation of complex wire harnesses onto 3D structures, supporting agile and scalable production environments where designs evolve rapidly and repair turnaround is critical. Wire harness installation remains one of the slowest and most labour-intensive stages of drone manufacture, creating a significant bottleneck in production and sustainment operations.
Molrix, Q5D’s U.S. partner and prime contractor on the deal, will provide first-line technical and operational support to the Army.
“Our partnership with Q5D brings advanced wire harness automation directly into U.S. Army production and depot environments,” said Van Sullivan, owner of Molrix. “Molrix will provide on-the-ground installation, integration and operational support to help deploy these systems quickly and effectively across Army manufacturing and sustainment operations.”
“Defence readiness is no longer just about stockpiling equipment; it also depends on having the manufacturing capability to sustain and modernise systems as operational demands evolve,” said General Edward Daly, former Commanding General of U.S. Army Materiel Command. “Advanced manufacturing and tactical-edge production are becoming central to military readiness and operational agility.”
More information on Q5D’s wiring automation technology can be found here.
About Q5D
Based in Bristol, UK, Q5D manufactures five-axis robotic platforms. These automate the installation of electrical wiring into products, eliminating the need for conventional wiring harnesses. The processes reduce cost, weight, and complexity in automotive, aerospace, and consumer products. They boost manufacturing productivity by up to 10X, improve product reliability, and simplify supply chains. For more information, visit https://q5d.com.
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About Molrix
Molrix is a U.S.-based engineering and integration company that brings advanced manufacturing technologies to defense and industrial customers, providing local sales, integration, training and first-level technical support for Q5D systems in North America.
About Tobyhanna Army Depot
Tobyhanna Army Depot in Pennsylvania is the largest full-service electronics maintenance facility in the Department of Defense, delivering logistics support, overhaul and repair for communications and electronics systems vital to U.S. and allied forces.
