The United Kingdom is developing low-cost, long-range weapons that could be deployed in Ukraine and will not depend on components or data provided by the United States, according to defense industry sources.
Three British-designed systems, developed by MBDA, MGI Engineering, and Rotron Aerospace, will undergo testing over the coming months on British and Ukrainian territory, with the aim of delivering them to the front line within a year, sources who requested anonymity said.
The Brakestop project, originally scheduled for launch at the end of 2024, accelerated its timeline to bolster military support for Kiev.
Lower precision and capacity at half the price of other systems
Although these weapons will offer lower precision and destructive capacity than the Storm Shadow missiles manufactured by MBDA, their cost will represent approximately half the value of the Anglo-French system, British officials said.
Unlike the Storm Shadow missiles, the new systems will not include American components or require data from that country, granting them operational autonomy.
This requirement became a priority for the British government, which, like other European countries, expressed concern over dependence on the US military industry amid the strategic withdrawal promoted by President Donald Trump.
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced this week a six-month review of the US military presence in Europe.
European leaders are preparing for a scenario that contemplates significant cuts to Washington's support, including a reduction in the military resources the Pentagon would allocate to the continent's defense in the event of an aggression.
What are the capabilities and cost of the Storm Shadow missiles?
Ukraine relies on Storm Shadow missiles to respond to the Russian offensive.
These air-launched cruise missiles have a range of over 250 kilometers and fly at low altitude and high speed using a combination of inertial navigation, Global Positioning System (GPS), and terrain reference navigation.
Each unit costs approximately one million dollars.
The new British systems will not be able to destroy bunkers, but they will have a warhead of at least 225 kilograms, enough to cause considerable damage.
Additionally, they must operate from ground platforms and reach targets located more than 500 kilometers away.
Each weapon will have an estimated cost of 400,000 British pounds, equivalent to about 529,000 dollars, excluding the warhead, according to requirements set by the British government.
According to sources, the three finalist companies in the competition assure they can manufacture at least 40 weapons per month within three to four months after receiving an order.
Even if they do not win the contract, the companies will seek to sell their systems directly to Ukraine or other European countries.
