Britain Tests New Long-Range Strike Weapons Intended for Possible Delivery to Ukraine

Britain has tested new long-range strike weapons at a range in the Hebrides. The systems are capable of hitting targets at least 500 km away and carrying a 225 kg warhead. The UK government hopes for delivery of the new weapons to Ukraine within months.

The Ministry of Defence challenged firms to develop weapons exceeding 600 km per hour, costing around £400,000 per unit, and producing at least 20 a month within months of an order. Twenty-seven industry bids were received. Dragon's Den-style pitches were held last February.

Six companies were awarded contracts worth around £5 million each to design and test the weapons in seven months. By last December, only three suppliers remained: MBDA UK, MGI Engineering, and Rotron Aerospace. The Hebrides launches saw all systems fire despite some minor technical hiccups.

The second phase of Project Brakestop is now underway. Companies were awarded follow-on contracts worth around £15 million to further develop 15 improved effectors each, alongside launchers and support vehicles. Officials hope the systems will be ready to deliver for Kyiv within a year following further tests overseas, including in Ukraine, over the coming months.

One of the specifications for the project was that the systems be free from International Traffic in Arms Regulations. The new systems are intended to produce munitions more quickly and affordably than existing systems like Storm Shadow missiles. Armed Forces Minister Louise Sandher-Jones stated: “That’s always the broad question, isn’t it?

About how we interoperate with our allies, but also what we have as a sovereign capability. ” She said the weapons would “complement” others, like Franco-British Storm Shadow missiles, which allow Ukraine to strike deep into Russia but carry a higher cost. MGI Engineering is a UK SME with a background in Formula 1 technology.