Britain has tested new long-range strike weapons, with the government hoping for delivery to Ukraine within months.
The initiative aims to produce munitions more quickly and affordably than existing systems like Storm Shadow missiles.
New systems, capable of hitting targets at least 500km away and carrying a 225kg warhead, have been fired at a range in the Hebrides, with further UK trials planned.
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) challenged firms to develop weapons exceeding 600km per hour, costing around £400,000 per unit, and producing at least 20 a month within months of an order.
Some 27 industry bids were received, with “Dragon’s Den”-style pitches held last February. Six companies were then awarded contracts worth around £5 million each to design and test the weapons in just seven months.
By last December, only three suppliers remained – MBDA UK, which makes Storm Shadow; MGI Engineering, a UK SME with a background in Formula 1 technology; and Rotron Aerospace, another UK SME with a history of working with the MoD.
It is understood that the Hebrides launches saw all systems fire despite some minor technical hiccups, which were to be expected as part of the “fail fast” approach to the project and which firms will now work to iron out before further trials.
The second phase of so-called “Project Brakestop” is now underway, with companies awarded follow-on contracts worth around £15 million to further develop 15 improved effectors each, alongside launchers and support vehicles.
Although no timeframe has been set for completion, officials hope the systems will be ready to deliver for Kyiv within a year following further tests overseas, including in Ukraine, over the coming months.
One of the specifications for the project was that the systems be free from International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) – the US rules governing the export of defence and military resources as part of an effort to boost sovereign capabilities.
Asked how important it was that the UK was not relying on America for this development, Armed Forces Minister Louise Sandher-Jones told reporters: “That’s always the broad question, isn’t it?
“About how we interoperate with our allies, but also what we have as a sovereign capability.
“There’s two parts of this we’re looking to test: one is producing a capability that can deliver an operational effect, that’s always going to be number one, but number two is when we start to transition towards talking about resilience as a nation, able to test our industry, and what we can produce here in the UK.”
She said the weapons would “complement” others, like Franco-British Storm Shadow missiles, which allow Ukraine to strike deep into Russia but carry a higher cost.
Ms Sandher-Jones said: “The UK stands shoulder-to-shoulder with Ukraine, and we will continue to provide the support it needs to defend itself against Russian aggression.
“Project Brakestop shows what happens when we combine that commitment with the talent and ingenuity of British industry. In less than a year, UK companies have taken an ambitious concept from the drawing board to flight testing, delivering a new generation of capability at remarkable speed.
“This is a clear demonstration that Britain has the industrial strength, innovation and determination to meet the challenges of modern warfare and support our allies.”
Western officials say Kyiv’s battlefield performance has improved significantly in recent months, with Ukrainian drones pinning down Russian troops on the front line and disrupting oil production deep inside Russia.
G7 leaders promised Ukraine more air defence capabilities earlier this week, without specifying what type of weapons.