Britain is developing cheaper domestically produced long-range missiles for Ukraine that would not rely on U.S. components and could reach the front line within a year, Bloomberg reported on June 20, citing British Defense Ministry officials, The New Voice of Ukraine reports.
Three British-made systems from MBDA, MGI Engineering and Rotron Aerospace are expected to undergo tests in Britain and Ukraine in the coming months, the officials said. The weapons could be delivered to the front line within a year.
Project Brakestop, launched in late 2024, was accelerated specifically to support Ukraine. The new missiles will likely be less accurate and less powerful than MBDA’s Storm Shadow cruise missiles, but their cost will be roughly half as high, Bloomberg reported.
The British government’s key requirement was that the systems contain no U.S. components and not depend on U.S. data. Bloomberg said that would ensure operational independence.
The new British systems will not be able to destroy fortified bunkers, but a warhead weighing at least 225 kilograms could inflict significant damage, Bloomberg reported. The ground-launched weapons can strike targets more than 500 kilometers away.
Each missile is expected to cost about 400,000 British pounds, excluding the warhead.
All three companies that reached the final stage of the competition said they could produce at least 40 missiles a month within three to four months of receiving an order. Even if they do not win the tender, the manufacturers plan to offer their systems to Ukraine and other European countries.
On June 18, during a Ramstein-format meeting, Britain announced plans to provide Ukraine with 150,000 drones, more than 350 air defense missiles and radars as part of a 752 million-pound funding package.
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