Overview
- In mid‑June 2026 UK firms completed validated prototype flight trials, with Rotron Aerospace’s SkyLance test cited by the company and the Ministry of Defence as proving core technologies.
- Three British companies — MBDA UK, MGI Engineering and Rotron Aerospace — were the final suppliers chosen to develop the prototypes under Project Brakestop.
- The programme set clear technical and production targets: weapons able to reach about 500 km with roughly a 225 kg warhead, a unit cost target near £400,000 excluding warhead, and a goal of at least 20 units per month.
- A key policy feature is that the designs avoid US components and controlled US data, removing US ITAR restrictions so the UK can export and allow use of the weapons without Washington’s export approvals.
- The MoD has awarded follow‑on development funding and will run further tests, including overseas trials, with officials saying successful qualification and production ramp‑up could allow deliveries to Kyiv within months to about a year while accepting lower bunker‑busting power than larger cruise missiles.