The Ministry of Defence (MoD) say it remains on track with its plans to acquire a medium-range precision strike system, with project approvals progressing as scheduled, according to a response from Minister of State Maria Eagle to a parliamentary question.
Responding to James Cartlidge MP (Conservative – South Suffolk), Eagle confirmed that a Prior Information Notice (PIN) was issued in October 2024, followed by an industry day in December 2024, which was well attended by defence sector representatives.
“Since then, the team at Defence Equipment and Support have actively engaged with industry to ensure communication continues between stakeholders and industrial partners,” Eagle stated.
Significant internal work has also been completed to ensure the project moves forward efficiently. The contract award is expected in 2027, with the system planned for introduction into service in 2028.
The procurement of a medium-range precision strike capability is seen as a key step in modernising the UK’s long-range strike options, ensuring that the British Armed Forces can engage targets with greater accuracy and effectiveness.
The MRPS system is envisioned to deliver a beyond-visual-line-of-sight precision strike capability with extensive operational versatility. Designed for both land and maritime platforms, the system must achieve a minimum range of 60 km and loiter for at least 40 minutes, transmitting real-time video for target identification.
Additional requirements include:
- All-weather and day-night operational capabilities.
- Resilience in contested, degraded, and GPS-denied environments.
- Ability to engage diverse targets, including armoured vehicles and fast inshore attack craft.
- Portability and compatibility with existing UK platforms for land, sea, and air deployment.
The MOD plans to procure at least 200 munitions, with initial deliveries expected by 2027, at an estimated programme value of £120 million.
What isn’t clear is if this is a reusable delivery platform. If it’s just a lotering one use drone/missile then 200 would be used up on day one of any serious war.
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Yes, but why get 10000 if they’re a flop? Best to buy a batch and see how they are in service, maybe test a few at our Eastern European munitions testing range, can always scale afterwards with confidence.
Medium range precision strike…more artillery/extended range munitions?
Not just 200 shots….20,000 or more…
AA
Never should have canceled Fireshadow
Er, getting a new “medium-range precision strike capability” doesn’t modernise “the UK’s long-range strike options” by definition. They are different range brackets.
Cutting, is also modernising, don’t you know. 😉
The other day HMG were also retiring older military equipment. That was known as cutting too once.
Targeting will still be the issue.
200. We really must be preparing for war. Considering some will be lost to EW, Shorad in a real war that stock is going to run low.
200 per month manufactured in the UK would be more like it with reserve forces trained in their use.
200 loitering munitions ostensibly at over half a million each, but we know how much operational readiness inflates unit prices. This feels like an American Switchblade 600 or an Israeli UVision Hero-120 perhaps? The Hero 120s are estimated at £100K flyaway by Shephard, and by the time the MOD has integrated them and trained people and blah, blah, blah. There was even a picture of a Royal Marine holding a Hero-120 back in 2020.
However, the UK has been nosing around a Switchblade purchase for several years, and that’s where I think the money is going. More money for US drones and no attempt to create industry in this country. Not going to make Labour very happy.
Come to think of it, didn’t we already buy Switchblades on behalf of Ukraine?
Don’t those Helsing drones fall in that bracket too, and they’ve recently opened up shop in the UK. I’d be taking a look at them perhaps…