The United Kingdom is seeking to accelerate the development of its future hypersonic missile through an investment of £12 million aimed at strengthening its sovereign capabilities in this type of weaponry. The contract was awarded to Amentum UK, with the objective of advancing the design, testing, and management of a system capable of operating at the extreme speeds and temperatures characteristic of hypersonic flight.
The initiative, promoted by the Ministry of Defence (MOD), foresees the development of a technology demonstrator that will undergo flight testing before its adaptation into operational missile prototypes. The company will work alongside subcontractors Ebeni Ltd and Synthetik Applied Technologies UK Ltd, which will provide technical capabilities from Wiltshire and London, respectively, as part of an industrial collaboration framework.
According to the British Government, these advances respond to the conclusions of the Strategic Defence Review (SDR), which underscored the importance of hypersonic missiles in contemporary warfare scenarios. The Executive maintains that the development of sovereign capabilities in long-range and high-speed weapons will contribute to reinforcing national security, protecting its allies, and strengthening deterrence within the framework of the NATO.
The Minister for Defence Procurement and Industry, Luke Pollard, stated: “In this new era of threats, we need a new era for defence. This means moving faster to develop and acquire the cutting-edge technologies that our Armed Forces need for modern warfare.” He further added that “we are turning defence into an engine for growth. This contract will accelerate the development of the United Kingdom’s sovereign hypersonic missile capability, strengthen our national security, and support British workers.”
Since July 2024, the UK hypersonic program has awarded 22 contracts to 124 suppliers, of which more than 50% are small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), for a total estimated value of £48 million. The current contract was granted 31 days after the invitation to tender, in line with the government’s commitment to streamline procurement processes and reduce bureaucracy through the MOD’s Commercial X team.
Under the agreement, Amentum will establish a Joint Programme Office and a Systems Engineering Delivery Advisory Team to define the detailed technical requirements of the hypersonic weapon system demonstrator and analyze flight-testing options. The so-called Industry Mission Partner (IMP) contract will have an initial duration of 15 months, with the possibility of extension for an additional three years, and includes comprehensive life-cycle project solutions, including systems engineering, mission planning, platform integration with sensors, test design and execution, safety systems, and cost analysis.
Rupert Pearce, National Armaments Director at the MOD, stated: “This contract represents exactly the kind of innovative partnership approach required by the UK Defence Industrial Strategy, bringing together expertise from across defence, large companies, SMEs, and academia to deliver results at pace.” He also highlighted that the IMP model “breaks down traditional organizational boundaries and creates the collaborative environment we need to deliver this critical sovereign capability,” while boosting the defence industrial base and employment in the country.
*Images for illustrative purposes.
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