Cambridge Aerospace says Skyhammer turbojet interceptor UAV 70% effective

Cambridge Aerospace's Skyhammer interceptor UAV, displayed at Eurosatory 2026. (Janes/Tamara Rozouvan)

UK company Cambridge Aerospace's Skyhammer interceptor unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) has a 70% effectiveness rate, Chris Sylvan, co-founder and chief commercial officer of the company told Janes at the Eurosatory 2026 exhibition, held in Paris from 15-19 June.

“That's the totality of all of our activity,” Sylvan said. A 1 May 2026 UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) press release said that the first tranche of Skyhammer interceptors would be delivered that month, with more interceptors due to be supplied within six months of the initial batch. The MoD did not disclose the total number.

Sylvan did not provide any details on whether the company is working with Ukraine, only saying, “we started the business to be able to get capability into the hands of Ukrainians so they can protect themselves against the likes of Shaheds”.

The Skyhammer is a turbojet engine interceptor with a range of more than 30 km, a maximum speed of 700 km/h, and a nearly 2 kg payload, according to Cambridge Aerospace. Sylvan described the guidance system as autonomous. “It takes the track data from the command and control system and feeds it into the guidance system. As soon as it launches, that guidance system takes over and is ultimately able to track down that particular threat,” he said, adding that the interceptor uses a radar to set off in the direction of the target and an electro-optical seeker to track and engage it during autonomous flight.