Kyiv Post reports:

The UK is developing a new, low-cost, long-range weapon system for deployment in Ukraine that will function without US components or data, Bloomberg reported.

According to the UK Ministry of Defence, the initiative, known as “Project Brakestop,” was launched in late 2024 and is operating on an accelerated timeline to provide support for Kyiv.

Defense companies MBDA, MGI Engineering, and Rotron Aerospace are currently developing three competing weapon systems. Testing is scheduled to take place in the UK and Ukraine in the coming months, with the goal of deploying the new weapons to the front line within a year.

The new missiles are designed to carry a warhead weighing at least 225 kilograms and strike targets at a distance of over 500 kilometers. Officials state the new munitions will be less precise than the Anglo-French Storm Shadow missiles but will cost approximately half as much. The target price per unit, excluding the warhead, is £400,000 ($529,320).

The participating companies have indicated they can produce at least 40 units per month within three to four months of receiving an order. They plan to sell the weapons directly to Ukraine or other European nations if they do not secure the primary UK defense contract.

A central requirement of the British government for Project Brakestop is that the missiles contain no US components and utilize no US data. This ensures the weapon systems maintain complete operational independence, addressing concerns regarding over-reliance on the US defense industry and potential restrictions on use. [Continue reading…]