The UK Ministry of Defence has awarded 12 million pounds ($16.2 million) to Amentum UK to develop a hypersonic missile system, advancing London’s push for a domestic long-range, high-speed strike capability.
The program will culminate in flight testing of a demonstrator, with designs intended to evolve into prototype missiles capable of exceeding Mach 5 and withstanding extreme thermal and structural loads.
Amentum UK will collaborate with subcontractors Ebeni and Synthetik Applied Technologies UK Ltd to deliver engineering design work under an integrated “Team Hypersonics (UK)” structure.
The effort is part of a broader UK initiative to field a hypersonic strike capability by the end of the decade.
Hypersonics as Priority
The award follows the UK’s Strategic Defence Review, which highlighted hypersonics as a priority area for future conflict.
Since July 2024, the UK has issued 22 hypersonics-related contracts to 124 suppliers through the Hypersonics Technologies & Capability Development Framework, totaling 48 million pounds ($64.8 million). More than half of these suppliers are small and medium-sized enterprises.
Officials noted the Amentum contract moved from tender to award in just 31 days, reflecting efforts to streamline procurement via the Commercial X acquisition team. Funding will flow directly to Ebeni and Synthetik as part of the integrated program.
The contract also aligns with the government’s broader defense spending plans, including a commitment to raise spending to 2.5 percent of GDP from 2027, the largest sustained increase since the Cold War.
Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry Luke Pollard said the program aims to accelerate access to advanced technologies for the armed forces while strengthening domestic industry.
The ministry expects this phase to inform future decisions on full weapons development and potential NATO collaboration.
