Skyhammer ready to destroy Shaheds as MOD sends air defence system to Middle East

Hundreds of new interceptors and launchers are being sent to the Middle East to protect UK and allied forces in the region.

The Skyhammer air defence system is designed to counter drones like the Iranian Shahed-136 as well as low-speed missiles such as those that have already been seen across the area.

Skyhammer interceptors, which are made by Cambridge Aerospace, have a range of more than 30km and a top speed of 700km/h.

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Deliveries are scheduled to start next month, with all units being delivered to the MOD within the next six months.

News of the deal was announced by Defence Secretary John Healey, who told the London Defence Conference: "So today I'm announcing, in relation to the Middle East, a new initiative with Cambridge Aerospace.

"It's a veteran-led start-up. We're going to see from them, within weeks, hundreds of new interceptor missiles and launchers that we'll be able to put to our own forces and our allies within the Middle East to reinforce the air defences and then deterrence beyond that."

The exact cost of the deal has not been disclosed but is said to be a "multimillion-pound missile contract".

Layered defence

Cambridge Aerospace was founded in late 2024 and the company started the development of Skyhammer in January 2025, with initial flight testing taking place within six weeks.

Since then, the product has undergone further testing on a weekly basis to ensure it is able to counter a range of threats and integrate with a wide range of sensors.

The company says Skyhammer offers a rapidly-deployable layered air defence system.

It said recent testing delivered consistent successful interceptions of Shahed-style drones in a variety of conditions, with the autonomous platforms identifying, tracking and intercepting the target.