Munitions

Project Brakestop

Also known as
  • Brakestop
  • Project BRAKESTOP
  • One Way Effector Heavy
  • OWE Heavy

Project Brakestop is a UK Ministry of Defence rapid-development programme for low-cost, ground-launched one-way effectors intended to give Ukraine additional long-range strike mass without depending on high-end cruise-missile stocks.

Project Brakestop, Low-cost ground-launched long-range strike weapon programme, Munitions
Image source: MBDA Crossbow Launch
Programme Status

Brakestop is best read as a current procurement and development programme rather than a fielded single model. Public sources support flight testing, supplier selection, Phase 2 development contracts, and planned Ukraine-related trials; they do not yet document Ukrainian operational firings.

Requirement

Ground-launched strike weapon, more than 500 km range, at least 225 kg warhead, more than 600 km/h speed, and production scalability.

Finalists

MBDA UK Crossbow, MGI Engineering TigerShark, and Rotron Aerospace SkyLance reached the public flight-test phase.

Status limit

Parliamentary answers in December 2025 stated that there was no defined in-service date or final buy quantity; the June 2026 MOD update then described Phase 2 improved-effector contracts and further planned trials.

Profile / Specs

Profile

Origin
United Kingdom
Type
Low-cost ground-launched long-range strike weapon programme
Service note
Rapid-development Ukraine support programme launched in 2024
Designer
UK Ministry of Defence Taskforce Kindred competition with British industry suppliers
Designed
Launched in November 2024; prototype contracts followed in early 2025
Unit cost
Target unit cost around GBP400,000 excluding warhead
Produced
Prototype flight tests announced in 2026; Phase 2 contracts awarded to produce improved effectors, launchers, and support vehicles
Number built
Phase 2 calls for 15 improved effectors from each selected supplier

Specifications

Programme requirement
Low-cost ground-launched long-range strike weapon for Ukraine
Minimum range requirement
More than 500 km
Warhead requirement
At least 225 kg
Speed requirement
More than 600 km/h
Target unit cost
Around GBP400,000 excluding the warhead
Production scalability goal
At least 20 weapons per month within months of a production order
Phase 2 scope
About GBP15 million contracts to multiple suppliers for 15 improved effectors each, plus launchers and support vehicles
Test range
MOD Hebrides Range, managed by QinetiQ under the Long-Term Partnering Agreement
Variants

Brakestop is a programme umbrella rather than a single public missile model; the public finalists are separate one-way effector designs built against the same UK requirement.

VariantConfigurationDesignation notes
MBDA Crossbow OWE Heavy, Ground-launched one-way effector, MunitionsMBDA Crossbow OWE HeavyGround-launched deep-fires candidate

MBDA describes Crossbow as a vehicle-launched one-way effector with payloads up to 300 kg and range beyond 800 km.

Sources: MBDA Crossbow Launch, Janes Crossbow DSEI Report

TigerShark, Autonomous long-range one-way effector, MunitionsMGI Engineering TigerSharkAutonomous deep-strike candidate

MGI and Auterion describe TigerShark as a high-speed uncrewed deep-strike platform with a 300 kg payload and range exceeding 1,000 km in the April 2026 first-flight announcement.

Sources: Auterion TigerShark Launch, Janes TigerShark First Flights

SkyLance, Rocket-assisted long-range one-way effector, MunitionsSkyLanceLong-range one-way effector candidate

Rotron lists SkyLance with a 300 kg configurable payload, 600 km/h cruise speed, rocket-assisted launch, and 1,200 km range at maximum payload.

Sources: Rotron SkyLance Product, Rotron Brakestop Milestone

Finalist Systems

The three public Brakestop finalists are separate one-way-effector designs built against a common UK requirement. Their support pages are relationship-only because public sources document development and test context, not confirmed combat use.

SystemBuilderDocumented relationship
MBDA Crossbow OWE Heavy, Ground-launched one-way effector, MunitionsCrossbow OWE HeavyMBDA UKMBDA's vehicle-launched heavy one-way-effector candidate reached the public Brakestop finalist set identified by the UK Ministry of Defence.
TigerShark, Autonomous long-range one-way effector, MunitionsTigerSharkMGI EngineeringMGI Engineering's autonomous deep-strike effector is documented by MGI, Auterion, and the UK MOD as part of the Brakestop finalist and flight-test context.
SkyLance, Rocket-assisted long-range one-way effector, MunitionsSkyLanceRotron AerospaceRotron identifies SkyLance as its Brakestop one-way-effect system and the UK MOD lists Rotron among the suppliers that progressed to flight testing.
Timeline

Project Brakestop Key Events

  1. Project Brakestop launched

    The UK Ministry of Defence launched the Taskforce Kindred competition to create low-cost, ground-launched strike weapons for Ukraine with more than 500 km range and a 225 kg warhead requirement.

    Sources: UK MOD Brakestop Press Release

  2. Industry pitch phase

    The Ministry of Defence assessed 27 bids and selected six British companies for prototype design-and-build contracts worth about GBP5 million each.

    Sources: UK MOD Brakestop Press Release

  3. Three suppliers reached flight testing

    MBDA UK, MGI Engineering, and Rotron Aerospace were the remaining suppliers identified by the Ministry of Defence as the programme moved into flight testing.

    Sources: UK MOD Brakestop Press Release

  4. UK announced flight-test milestone

    The UK Ministry of Defence announced that three British-designed Brakestop long-range strike systems had been flight tested and that Phase 2 development contracts had been awarded.

    Sources: UK MOD Brakestop Press Release

Media

Project Brakestop Videos

Related Weapon Systems
Nightfall, Ground-launched tactical ballistic missile, ArtilleryArtilleryNightfallGround-launched tactical ballistic missileNightfall is a UK Ministry of Defence project for a road-mobile, ground-launched tactical ballistic missile intended to give Ukraine a lower-cost long-range strike option against fixed military targets. Official material describes a more-than-500 km missile carrying a roughly 200 kg conventional high-explosive warhead, designed for rapid salvo launch, withdrawal within minutes, and operation in heavy electronic-warfare conditions; parliamentary answers place first Ukrainian deliveries after testing, starting in late 2027.
SAMP/T, Mobile long-range surface-to-air missile system, Air DefenseAir DefenseSAMP/TMobile long-range surface-to-air missile systemSAMP/T, known as MAMBA in French service, is a Franco-Italian truck-mounted air and missile defense system built around Aster interceptors, multifunction radar, engagement command modules, and road-mobile vertical launchers. Ukraine uses SAMP/T batteries for scarce long-range air defense against Russian aircraft, missiles, and drones, while the SAMP/T NG path adds newer radar, Aster 30 Block 1NT, and a multi-layer configuration integrating VL MICA.
Gravehawk, Containerized short-range surface-to-air missile system, Air DefenseAir DefenseGravehawkContainerized short-range surface-to-air missile systemGravehawk is a UK-designed, Denmark-backed short-range air-defense system built for Ukraine by adapting Soviet-era R-73 air-to-air missiles for ground launch from a containerized twin-rail launcher. Official UK and parliamentary statements place it in Ukraine's wartime air-defense network, with prototypes delivered and a follow-on batch intended to help protect cities, troops, infrastructure, and energy facilities from Russian aerial attacks.

Sources

UK MOD Brakestop Press ReleasePublisher: UK Ministry of Defence | Note: Supports Brakestop programme requirements, selected suppliers, Hebrides flight testing, Phase 2 scope, and planned Ukraine-related trials. | Accessed: 2026-07-13UK Parliament Brakestop In-Service AnswerPublisher: UK Parliament | Note: Supports the December 2025 status caveat that Project BRAKESTOP had no defined in-service date and that production contracts were planned after flight trials. | Accessed: 2026-07-13UK Parliament Brakestop Quantity AnswerPublisher: UK Parliament | Note: Supports the December 2025 status caveat that final purchase numbers had not been decided during the flight-trial phase. | Accessed: 2026-07-13MBDA Crossbow LaunchPublisher: MBDA | Note: Supports Crossbow manufacturer background, vehicle launch method, range and payload specifications, and primary image provenance. | Accessed: 2026-07-13Janes Crossbow DSEI ReportPublisher: Janes | Note: Supports independent reporting on Crossbow dimensions, weight, payload, range, navigation package, launcher concept, and DSEI 2025 development context. | Accessed: 2026-07-13Auterion TigerShark LaunchPublisher: Auterion | Note: Supports MGI TigerShark first-flight, speed, range, payload, GNSS-denied operation, and Auterion autonomy partnership. | Accessed: 2026-07-13Janes TigerShark First FlightsPublisher: Janes | Note: Supports independent reporting on TigerShark first flights, MGI Engineering attribution, and low-cost deep-strike effector context. | Accessed: 2026-07-13Rotron SkyLance ProductPublisher: Rotron Aerospace | Note: Supports SkyLance range, speed, launch method, payload, navigation, and survivability specifications. | Accessed: 2026-07-13Rotron Brakestop MilestonePublisher: Rotron Aerospace | Note: Supports Rotron's SkyLance Brakestop flight-trial milestone and UK Ministry of Defence Project Brakestop context. | Accessed: 2026-07-13The Aviationist Brakestop OWE OverviewPublisher: The Aviationist | Note: Supports specialist background on the three Brakestop one-way effectors and their Ukraine-oriented development context. | Accessed: 2026-07-13Calibre Defence Brakestop AnalysisPublisher: Calibre Defence | Note: Supports Brakestop finalist names, requirement comparison, planned Ukraine trials, and production caveats. | Accessed: 2026-07-13