LONDON, June 22 -- The government of the United Kingdom issued the following news:
A major UKprojectto developlow-costadvanced long-range strike weapons for Ukrainianhas reached a significant milestone, with three British-designed systems successfully flight tested just months after the competition was launched.
ProjectBrakestop, launched bythe Ministry of Defence'sTaskforce Kindred in November 2024, challenged UK industry to develop a low-cost, ground-launched strike weapon capable of hitting targets more than 500km away while carrying a powerful 225kg warhead.
The programme was designed to harness the speed,innovationandexpertiseof British industry to deliver a new capability at a pace rarely seen in defence.Followon contracts wortharound £15 million eachhave now been awarded to three companies.
Ambitious requirementswere setfor competitorsfor the new system, including:
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Arange of at least 500km
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Capable of carrying awarheadweighingat least 225kg
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Aspeed of more than 600km/h
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Target unit cost of around £400,000excludingthe warhead
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Ability to produce at least 20 weaponsamonth within months of a production order.
27 bids fromindustrywere received when the competition opened,andMOD experts carried out detailed technical assessments andheldcompetitive "Dragon's Den"style pitches in February 2025.Six British companies were awarded contracts worth around £5 million each to designandbuild prototype weaponsfor testingin just seven months.
Minister for the Armed Forces Louise Sandher-Jones MP said:
The UK stands shoulder-to-shoulder with Ukraine, and we will continue to provide the support it needs to defend itself against Russian aggression.
ProjectBrakestopshows what happens when we combine that commitment with the talent and ingenuity of British industry. In less than a year, UK companies have taken an ambitious concept from the drawing board to flight testing, delivering a new generation of capability at remarkable speed.
This is a clear demonstration that Britain has the industrial strength, innovation and determination to meet the challenges of modern warfare and support our allies.
By December 2025,onlythree suppliersremained, whoprogressed to flight testing:
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MBDA UK, a long-standing strategic partner of the UKwho produce systems includingStormShadow.
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MGI Engineering, a UK SMEwith over 25 years of success in Formula 1-BrakestopisMGI's firstdefence contract.
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RotronAerospace,aUK SMEwith astronghistory of working with the MODincludingtheDismounted Soldier Close Combat and Defence (DSCDP) programme.
Each of their systems were tested at the MOD Hebrides Range, a specialist trials site managed by QinetiQ through the Long-Term Partnering Agreement.
The announcement comes following a week of UK commitments to Ukraine where the Prime Minister announced at G7, a further £210 million of UK Export Finance support to power Ukraine's nuclear power plants, and 70 new sanctions targeting Russia's decrepit shadow fleet, military procurement supply chains and illicit finance networks.
Whilst on Thursday, The Defence Secretary announced that the UK will provide 150,000 Ukrainian-produced drones and over 350 air defence missiles and radars funded from Extraordinary Revenue Acceleration (ERA) loan.
ProjectBrakestopdemonstratesthe ability of UK industry to rapidly develop and test complex long-range strike systems.
The 225kg warheadthatthesystems must be capableofcarryinghas already been successfully developed and tested by another UK company, proving thedestructivepowerofthe system.
The next phase of ProjectBrakestopis now underway, with Phase 2 contracts worth around £15 million awarded tomultiple suppliers tofurther develop and produce 15 improved effectorseach, alongside launchers and support vehicles.
Further testing will take place in the UK in the coming months, followed byadditionaltrials overseas, including in Ukraine.
ProjectBrakestophas been deliveredbya combinedMOD teamincludingtheNational Armaments(Material andDstl),744 Naval Air Squadron,Air and Space Warfare Centre Air Wing,11ExplosiveOrdnanceDisposalRegimentandTaskforce Kindred,alongsideQinetiQ.
Disclaimer: Curated by HT Syndication.
