Bootnotes

MoD eyes Middle East exports after desert trials of Cambridge Aerospace system

The UK's answer to Shahed-style attack drones was successfully tested in Jordan, and British forces are set to receive their first shipments this month.

In a rare example of rapid procurement, the first tranche of Skyhammer interceptors and launchers will be delivered to the UK's armed forces in May after a multimillion-pound contract was signed with the maker, Cambridge Aerospace, in April.

In the meantime, the anti-drone system was put through its paces in Jordan at a dedicated test site for uncrewed aerial systems (UAS) and their counter technologies, operated by local defense biz Deep Element.

The trial was witnessed by Britain's Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry, Luke Pollard MP, who is in the region visiting Kuwait and Jordan for discussions on security, the Strait of Hormuz, and further defense cooperation.

According to the Ministry of Defence (MoD), the UK's National Armaments Director (NAD) Group is working to assist with financing and licensing deals for Skyhammer exports to nations in the Middle East.

The weapon is a small turbojet-powered missile about a meter (3 ft) long, with wings that unfold after launching. It is understood to have a range of 30 km (18.6 miles) and a maximum speed of 700 km/h (435 mph).

A key aspect of anti-drone systems is whether they can be made cheaply enough and in sufficient numbers to counter the targets they are designed for. In this case, Shahed-style attack drones cost somewhere between $20,000 and $50,000, far less than many existing missile systems developed to take down aircraft or advanced land attack missiles.

Cambridge Aerospace remains tight-lipped about costs, but estimates place the Skyhammer interceptor in the same $20,000-$50,000 price bracket per individual unit.

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"We have proven that our interceptors are not only cost-effective but also highly capable and will be able to counter the rising threat posed by aerial attacks," claimed Cambridge Aerospace CEO Steven Barrett.

Pollard said the successful trial of Skyhammer was a perfect example of a UK startup delivering cutting-edge technology with government backing.

The UK already has some anti-drone tech deployed in the Middle East. Royal Navy Wildcat helicopters equipped with the Lightweight Multirole Missile, otherwise known as Martlet, were dispatched in March to help defend RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus.

Also in the region, the Royal Air Force is understood to have a layered anti-drone defense system. ORCUS detects and classifies threats using radar, radio frequency sensors, and thermal imaging. NINJA can interfere with drone radio communications, while Rapid Sentry is a short-range air defense system that fires Martlet missiles.

The US and Israel's war against Iran has brought into sharper focus the threat of low-cost attack drones, which many militaries are woefully unprepared for. One exception is Ukraine, which has had to adapt to attacks from Iranian-style drones launched by Russia for years. ®