UK to Buy Anti-Drone Missiles to Counter Shaheds

Skyhammer anti-drone missile | Photo: UK Ministry of Defence

The UK Ministry of Defence has announced plans to procure a new interceptor missile system from British start-up Cambridge Aerospace, aimed at countering drone threats and supplying both domestic forces and Gulf partners.

Defence Secretary John Healey confirmed the development while opening the London Defence Conference, where officials, industry representatives and policymakers gathered to discuss defence priorities. The Ministry of Defence intends to purchase the new interceptor missile, known as “Skyhammer,” which has been designed to counter Iranian Shahed-style attack drones.

Initial deliveries of missiles and launchers are expected in May, subject to contract finalisation. Additional systems are scheduled to be supplied within the first six months of the agreement. The procurement package is expected to include integration, technical support and end-user training.

According to the Ministry, the Skyhammer missile has a range of 30 kilometres and can reach speeds of up to 700 kilometres per hour. The system is being positioned as a response to lessons observed in ongoing conflicts, particularly regarding the increasing use of drones.

Defence Secretary John Healey said, “We are applying the approach for UK support to Ukraine and accelerating contracts with the most innovative British businesses to rapidly expand support to Gulf partners and equip our own forces with anti-drone tech.

Our government backing for Cambridge Aerospace is a prime case of a veteran-founded UK defence start-up scaling at pace to deliver new interceptor missiles within weeks for our Armed Forced and Gulf partners, and good jobs and security here in the UK.”

The programme is also expected to support employment, with more than 50 new jobs to be created and 125 existing roles sustained within Cambridge Aerospace.

Cambridge Aerospace CEO Steven Barrett said, “With aerial threats to the UK and our allies increasing by the day, it is critical that we can defend ourselves effectively. Skyhammer was designed to do exactly that – bringing affordable mass to protect our skies. We welcome the Government’s commitment to supporting UK air defence with scalable, sovereign solutions.”

The announcement follows a recent roundtable involving UK defence companies and Gulf representatives. The Ministry of Defence’s National Armaments Director Group is also working to accelerate export processes and support defence cooperation with partners in the Middle East.