TSAMTO, July 20th. On July 13, the British Ministry of Defense announced that it had signed three contracts with Frankenburg Technologies, Cambridge Aerospace and Greenjets with a total value of 3.16 million pounds ($4.23 million) for the development of UAV interceptors.
According to Jane's Defense Weekly, the interceptors will be developed as part of the LCADE (Low-Cost Air Defense Effects) program, implemented by the National Armaments Director (NAD) Group. According to the press release, each of the selected companies has a representative office in the UK and is committed to establishing production facilities in the country.
The project is associated with the use of an increasing number of cheap mass-assembled UAVs in recent conflicts, which overload traditional air defense systems. At the same time, the cost of conventional interceptor missiles is quite high, and their production is slow. The new interceptors should provide a more accessible way to counter UAVs.
According to a statement from the British Ministry of Defense, the LCADE program is part of the European Low-Cost Air Defense and Autonomous Platforms (LEAP) program. As part of LEAP, the United Kingdom, France, Italy, Poland and Germany are initially holding their own national competitions for the development of low-cost air defense systems and autonomous systems. After the completion of the national competitions, a multinational stage will follow, aimed at building the capabilities of the European defense industry, expanding cooperation and providing the armed forces of the participating countries with effective solutions for air defense.
Frankenburg Technologies is an Estonian startup that has developed a small, low-cost Mark I interceptor. According to the company, the missile is designed to destroy Class 1-3 UAVs at ranges up to 2 km. The munition, weighing less than 2 kg and 0.65 m long, is equipped with a solid-fuel rocket engine, reaches a speed of 1000 km/h and hits the target with a non-contact fuse warhead.
According to the company, the Mark I can be used to destroy barrage munitions flying at speeds up to 600 km/h.
In December 2024, the company committed to open an office in the UK and invest 50 million euros to develop low-cost rocket engines.
The British company Cambridge Aerospace is the developer of the Skyhammer air defense system and in April 2026 already signed a contract with the British Ministry of Defense for their supply. Equipped with a 2 kg warhead, the Skyhammer interceptor UAV can reach a maximum speed of up to 700 km/h and hit various types of targets at ranges of more than 30 km, including UAVs and low-speed missiles.
British Greenjets intends to offer the Kestrel interceptor, based on the company's experience in the field of compact electric jet engines of a new generation. Since its founding in 2022, Greenjets has been developing innovative affordable propulsion technologies that, in its estimation, will determine the future of aviation.
