In response to a question from Conservative MP James Cartlidge regarding the potential for increasing UK-based drone production, Defence Minister Maria Eagle outlined the Ministry of Defence’s approach to assessing and enhancing domestic drone capabilities.
Eagle detailed the steps being taken:
“Defence has conducted an in depth industry survey following the Ministry of Defence Drone industry day earlier this year. We have generated a considerable range of data on Defence and Supplier coherence, and the UK Supply Chain and Commercial Market which we are analysing alongside a range of inputs to understand where the UK should prioritise production capacity. Defence will continue to prioritise the development of onshore UK drone production to enhance strategic resilience by ensuring onshore production is a key metric when selecting Defence Industry partners for uncrewed system design, development and acquisition. This will be cohered through the newly established Defence Uncrewed Design Authority.”
This statement indicates a strong commitment by the Ministry to develop and maintain robust onshore drone production, enhancing the UK’s strategic autonomy and resilience in unmanned system capabilities.
The newly established Defence Uncrewed Design Authority is set to guide these efforts by prioritising domestic production capacity in future procurements.
Recently, we reported that the Ministry of Defence had revealed plans for a new long-range strike weapon under the codename Project Brakestop, which aims to produce a minimum of 20 units per month.
According to a Prior Information Notice published on 25 September 2024, this one-way attack system will be capable of targeting enemy assets from over 500km away and operating in high-threat tactical environments.
The system, referred to in the notice as a One-Way Effector (OWE) Heavy, is designed to strike targets accurately while navigating through a GNSS-denied environment and withstanding electromagnetic warfare.
The Ministry of Defence has not confirmed whether this will be a missile, drone, or another form of delivery system, but the emphasis is placed on flexibility and adaptability.
“The User requires a cost-effective, long-range (500km) One Way Effector Heavy, capable of being safely ground launched from a mobile platform in a high-threat tactical environment,” states the notice.
According to the MoD’s outline, the system is expected to:
– Deliver a 200-300kg payload (similar to the Mk 82 bomb) over a 600km range.
– Achieve speeds of around 600km/h.
– Be launched safely from a mobile platform in a high-threat environment, with reduced detection probability.
– Operate via either a ballistic trajectory or low-level cruise mode.
– Navigate in a GNSS-denied environment with targeted end-stage guidance.
The MoD places a strong emphasis on the system’s ability to survive in complex environments. The OWE Heavy must operate under conditions that involve electromagnetic environments, all while remaining resistant to EW attacks and spoofing. This ensures its effectiveness in modern warfare scenarios where such measures are increasingly prevalent.
The Ministry of Defence has laid out requirements for the system to be scalable in its production, capable of delivering at least 20 units per month, with the potential for further expansion if needed. “Manufacturing shall be scalable to meet requirements at a minimum of 20 units-per-month, with the ability to further increase,” the MoD specifies.
This scalability focuses on delivering results quickly, with the MoD prioritising efficient production over intricate design details, in order to meet the growing need for rapid deployment.
While the exact nature of the delivery system is not confirmed, the project allows for flexibility. Whether a missile, drone, or another technology, the system must operate efficiently under a range of conditions. “This can be done via (ballistic or low-level cruise) and could use a missile a drone or another technology to deliver effect,” the notice explains.
This flexibility extends to the system’s ability to launch from mobile platforms, providing an adaptable response to the modern battlefield’s changing needs.
As part of the development process, the Ministry of Defence will hold an industry day on 9 October 2024 in London. This event is designed to allow industry participants to showcase their potential solutions to different aspects of the project, including propulsion systems, navigation, targeting, and launcher systems.
Project Brakestop is operating on an ambitious timeline, aiming for a demonstration firing by Q3 2025 and potential serial production from Q4 2025. “There is an aggressive timeline of a demonstration firing in Q2 2025 and, subject to contract, potential serial production from Q3 2025, producing a minimum around 20 platforms per month.”
Great picture of Jackdaws, another UK drone that does not exist. Perhaps we should focus on buying one before worrying about up scaling production
That’s a vampire, not a Jackdaw.
Jackdaw has external engines bizjet style.
Yeah but let’s get down to the serious stuff – which service owns it – Army or RAF 😀👎😭
I must have read the wrong article, isn’t that what this is all about while emphasising the urgency, after all it actually states an ‘ambitious timeline’ of a year for test and production.quickly following with scalability surely a welcome and necessary added factor. Not sure, whatever past criticisms, that we can expect more at this point.
Surely the following at last addresses the need to correct what we all criticise them for.
‘This scalability focuses on delivering results quickly, with the MoD prioritising efficient production over intricate design details, in order to meet the growing need for rapid deployment.’
Now if they don’t deliver I’m sure there will plenty to complain about in a year or so here and elsewhere.
You’re referring to the “one way effector” which most of us would recognise as a slow missile.
For all the talk, what of our own Drones or UAV have we ever actually bought?
Watchkeeper.
Predator.
Reaper.
Protector.
Taranis.
Scheibal.
Puma AE
Wasp.
Desert Hawk II and III
Stalker.
Black Hornet.
Indago 4
Anduril Ghost 4.
Plus things like Mantis from BAES.
All foreign I think.
I can think the old, obsolete Phoenix, a few Banshee for QinetiQ, with some trialled by the RN, and 22 Malloy T150 for the RM.
Navy had some Sky Mantis (quadcopters) from Guilford-based Evolve Dynamics trialled on HMS Protector.
Perhaps some of the problem is that everything needs up-front signed-off requirements that fit a business case, which at least quadruples the price, usually far far more. The idea of buying a bunch of cheap OTS stuff to play around with in the field won’t make it through modern governance, nor health and safety probably.
Yeah we need to be in a war before we solve all that laborious red tape and get our act together, at which point we often excel. Now whether Ukraine gets us close enough to that point is the big question.
“Defence has conducted an in depth industry survey following the Ministry of Defence Drone industry day earlier this year. We have generated a considerable range of data on Defence and Supplier coherence, and the UK Supply Chain and Commercial Market which we are analysing alongside a range of inputs to understand where the UK should prioritise production capacity. Defence will continue to prioritise the development of onshore UK drone production to enhance strategic resilience by ensuring onshore production is a key metric when selecting Defence Industry partners for uncrewed system design, development and acquisition. This will be cohered through the newly established Defence Uncrewed Design Authority.”
We’re thinking about it.