DistantNews
Support us
🇹🇼 Taiwan /Conflict & Security

Britain Tests 3 Long-Range Weapons in Under a Year for Ukraine Aid

From Liberty Times · () Chinese

Translated from Chinese, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources New plan
  • Britain successfully tested three new long-range strike weapon prototypes in under a year as part of Project Brakestop.
  • The weapons, with a range exceeding 500 kilometers, are intended to bolster Ukraine's long-range strike capabilities against Russian rear targets.
  • The project aims to rapidly develop cost-effective, mass-producible long-range strike capabilities to meet modern warfare demands.

Britain has rapidly advanced its indigenous long-range strike weapon capabilities, successfully testing three prototypes within a year under the "Project Brakestop" initiative. These new weapons, capable of striking targets over 500 kilometers away, are being developed to provide a crucial supplement to Ukraine's arsenal against Russian rear positions.

The "Project Brakestop" initiative, launched by the British Ministry of Defence in late 2024, aims to reduce reliance on U.S. technology and overcome export controls. The core objective is to establish cost-effective long-range strike capabilities quickly, with weapons requiring a range of at least 500 kilometers, speeds over 600 kilometers per hour, and the ability to carry a 225-kilogram warhead.

MBDA UK, MGI Engineering, and Rotron Aerospace have each completed flight tests for their respective systems. The rapid development, from concept to flight testing in less than a year, highlights the agility of Britain's defense industry, according to the Ministry of Defence.

Project Brakestop demonstrates the ability of British industry to take a concept design through to flight testing in under a year.

— Louise Sandher-JonesUK's Minister for Armed Forces, commenting on the rapid development of the new weapons.

Following the successful tests, manufacturers have received phase two contracts for further development of improved weapons, launch systems, and support vehicles. Further validation is planned in the coming months, with Ukraine being the most likely initial deployment location. "Britain will continue to provide Ukraine with the capabilities it needs to defend against Russian aggression," stated Louise Sandher-Jones, the UK's Minister for Armed Forces.

The Ministry of Defence also indicated that the new weapons are designed for rapid mass production, with a target of producing over 20 units per month within months of a production order. The 225-kilogram warhead has also completed testing, paving the way for potential deployment.

Britain will continue to provide Ukraine with the capabilities it needs to defend against Russian aggression.

— Louise Sandher-JonesUK's Minister for Armed Forces, affirming support for Ukraine.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Liberty Times in Chinese. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

More Stories

From Our Blog