Three British-designed long-range weapons intended for Ukrainian use have passed initial flight testing, marking a milestone in a UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) programme launched in late 2024 to deliver affordable high-capacity strike systems.
The effort, called Project Brakestop, began under the MoD’s Taskforce Kindred and invited UK companies to produce ground-based weapons that could deliver a 225kg warhead to targets over 500km away.
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The MoD outlined performance and manufacturing targets in the project, including a weapon speed above 600km/h and a unit cost goal of £400,000, excluding the warhead.
The competition launched in November 2024 and drew 27 industrial proposals. These underwent technical scrutiny and evaluation by MoD experts, with further selection made following presentations in February 2025.
Initial development contracts of roughly £5m each were subsequently given to six British firms that were tasked with designing and assembling prototypes within a seven-month window.
As of December 2025, only MBDA UK, MGI Engineering, and Rotron Aerospace progressed to the flight-testing phase.
All three systems underwent trials at the MOD Hebrides Range, a facility operated by QinetiQ via a long-term partnership.
The required 225kg warhead for these weapons has previously completed its own development and testing, the MOD confirmed.
In the next stage, each company has been awarded a follow-on contract valued at approximately £15m to continue system refinement and to supply 15 weapons each, as well as the accompanying launch and support equipment.
The MoD states that further test activities will take place in the UK, followed by overseas trials, including evaluations in Ukraine.
These developments arise amid several recent UK government initiatives supporting Ukraine.
Prior to his resignation on 22 June, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced a further £210m of UK Export Finance assistance for Ukraine’s nuclear programmes at the recent G7 summit. Starmer also declared new sanctions focused on Russian networks and procurement chains.
Additionally, the MoD has outlined more supplies to Ukraine, including 150,000 Ukrainian-made drones and in excess of 350 air defence missiles and radars, funded through the Extraordinary Revenue Acceleration loan.
Project Brakestop is operated by a cross-department MoD team, which includes the National Armaments (Material and Dstl), 744 Naval Air Squadron, the Air and Space Warfare Centre Air Wing, 11 Explosive Ordnance Disposal Regiment, and is delivered in partnership with QinetiQ and Taskforce Kindred.
Armed Forces Minister Louise 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.
“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.”
