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UK Ministry of Defence funds second phase of Brakestop missile development for Ukraine
Three UK companies advance in Project Brakestop with £45m funding to produce affordable long-range surface-to-surface missiles for Ukraine.
The gist
UK MoD invests £45m to develop long-range low-cost missiles from three companies for Ukraine under Project Brakestop’s second phase.
The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) has allocated around £45 million ($59 million) to support the next stage of Project Brakestop, aimed at developing low-cost, long-range one-way surface-to-surface missiles intended for delivery to Ukraine. This funding will enable three key UK companies—MBDA UK, MGI Engineering, and Rotron Aerospace—to enhance their weapon designs following successful test firings. The initiative is part of the UK government’s effort to supply Ukraine with effective and affordable munitions amid ongoing conflict.
Project Brakestop’s weapons specifications set challenging benchmarks: each missile must have a range of at least 270 nautical miles (about 500 kilometers), carry a 225-kilogram warhead, and travel at speeds exceeding 324 knots (600 kilometers per hour). The MoD confirmed that after preliminary tests at its Hebrides Range in Scotland, these firms are advancing under contracts worth approximately £15 million each to further develop their systems, produce 15 improved effectors per company, and deliver associated launchers and support vehicles.
MBDA unveiled its Crossbow candidate for Brakestop in 2025, featuring a turbojet engine and an anticipated operational range of around 430 nautical miles. The company has reported successful truck-mounted test firings conducted in December and February, demonstrating progress towards scalable production. MBDA emphasized that Crossbow is designed to be mature and ready for deployment ahead of formal contracts, targeting the capability to produce the missile en masse within 2026.
MGI Engineering is developing its TigerShark missile, which it promotes as an affordable, scalable alternative to traditional cruise missiles. TigerShark reportedly achieves a range near 486 nautical miles, carries up to 300 kilograms of payload, and can reach speeds of 405 knots. The Oxford-based firm highlights the system’s open architecture and autonomous operation as aligning well with Project Brakestop’s needs and modern warfare requirements. MGI plans to scale production beginning in the fourth quarter of this year.
Rotron Aerospace is advancing its SkyLance missile, which has recently completed a successful test firing validating its core technologies. The company attributes its progress to a lean operating model and advanced propulsion technologies that provide greater operational range compared to similar systems. Rotron stresses cost competitiveness and rapid development cycles, aiming to deliver a weapon that meets both tactical demands and production scalability.
Under the new phase, alongside weapon production, firms are tasked with delivering launch systems and support vehicles, essential components that will enable deployment and operational use in Ukraine. Further testing is scheduled through the remainder of 2026 at UK facilities, with additional trials planned overseas, including direct assessments in Ukraine. This iterative testing and development are critical to ensuring the missiles meet the demanding operational environment.
The UK MoD states that the warheads for these effectors have been successfully developed and tested by a separate domestic company, and each missile excluding the warhead is expected to cost around £400,000. Crucially, contractors must demonstrate the ability to rapidly scale up production capacity, with a mandatory target of producing at least 20 weapons monthly within a few months of receiving a production order.
Project Brakestop originated in late 2024 and initially attracted bids from 27 companies. After a rigorous selection and prototype testing process, the field was narrowed to six, and subsequently to the current three finalists entrusted with bringing the concept to operational maturity. The project reflects an evolving approach to arming Ukraine with cost-effective, long-range precision strike capabilities that can be produced quickly and in quantity.
As geopolitical tensions in Eastern Europe persist, developing weapons that balance performance, affordability, and manufacturability is a strategic priority. The UK’s approach through Project Brakestop illustrates how defense innovation can be rapidly mobilized to meet urgent international security demands while supporting domestic industrial capability.
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