Britain developing affordable long-range weapon for Ukraine free of US components
According to representatives of the UK Ministry of Defense, three British-made systems, developed by MBDA, MGI Engineering, and Rotron Aerospace, are scheduled to undergo testing in both the United Kingdom and Ukraine in the coming months.
If the tests are successful, the weapons could be delivered to the Ukrainian military as early as next year.
The project, known as Brakestop, was launched in late 2024. Its implementation was accelerated specifically to support Ukraine. According to preliminary estimates, the new missiles will be less accurate and less powerful than MBDA's Storm Shadow cruise missiles, but their cost will be roughly half as much.
One of the key features of the new weapon systems will be the complete absence of American components and dependence on US data. This is expected to provide the systems with greater operational autonomy.
This requirement was a priority for the British government, which has previously expressed concerns about excessive dependence on the US defense-industrial complex.
According to the published specifications, the new British systems will be capable of carrying a warhead weighing at least 225 kilograms and striking targets at a range of more than 500 kilometers.
The cost of a single unit, excluding the warhead, is estimated at around £400,000, or approximately $529,320.
Bloomberg sources say that all three companies participating in the competition have stated that they would be able to scale production to at least 40 weapons per month within three to four months of receiving an order.
If a contract is not awarded, the manufacturers plan to offer their products directly to Ukraine or to other European countries.
It is worth recalling that during the G7 summit, participants discussed new mechanisms for strengthening Ukraine's air defense, expanding its long-range strike capabilities, and supporting weapons production directly in Ukraine and in partner countries.
As previously reported, the leaders of the Group of Seven countries stated following the summit that they intend to increase supplies of air defense systems, interceptor missiles, and long-range weapons to Ukraine. They also expressed readiness to consider granting licenses for weapons production directly in Ukraine.
As reported earlier, US President Donald Trump said that his administration would examine the possibility of allowing American defense companies to manufacture weapons under license in Europe and Ukraine.
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21 of June 2026
