Training air and missile defense crews remains a critical element of protecting national airspace. To strengthen those capabilities, the United Kingdom is restarting the production of hypersonic target missiles after a gap of more than ten years.
According to the UK Ministry of Defence, Lockheed Martin UK has been awarded a contract worth £20 million (approximately €23.4 million) to deliver the program. The first flight of the new target missile is scheduled for 2027.
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As Uk Defence Journal reports, the project will allow Britain to stop relying on allied nations for a critical capability needed to train against hypersonic weapons and ballistic missiles. The work is expected to be carried out at Lockheed Martin's facility in Ampthill, England.
From Defense Express's perspective, the growing use of ballistic and hypersonic weapons has made this type of training increasingly relevant. Russia regularly employs systems such as the Iskander-M, Kinzhal, and Zircon, while Iran has also demonstrated the use of ballistic missiles during conflicts involving the United States, Israel, and Gulf states.
Recent combat experience has shown that, although modern automated air-defense systems significantly simplify engagement procedures, operator experience and training remain essential. Well-trained crews can improve interceptor allocation, deploy missile-defense assets more efficiently, and enhance coordination between different air-defense systems.
It is worth noting that the United Kingdom does not operate Patriot or other land-based systems specifically designed to intercept ballistic or hypersonic missiles. Those capabilities currently reside primarily with the Royal Navy, whose ships are responsible for protecting the British Isles, overseas territories, allied forces, and naval task groups.
The Royal Navy's Type 45 destroyers are currently equipped with Aster 30 interceptors, which are being upgraded to the B1NT standard. Britain is also considering equipping its warships with Mk 41 Vertical Launching Systems, which would enable them to fire SM-3, SM-6, and PAC-3 MSE interceptors.
As for defending against aerodynamic threats, the United Kingdom is also working to double its inventory of Sky Sabre medium-range air defense systems, with additional launchers scheduled to begin entering service in 2027.
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