UK, Gulf states to procure Skyhammer interceptor UAVs

The UK and Gulf states are to procure Skyhammer interceptor UAVs from Cambridge Aerospace. (Cambridge Aerospace)

The UK and Gulf states will procure Skyhammer interceptor unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) from UK start-up Cambridge Aerospace, Defence Secretary John Healey announced in a speech at the London Defence Conference on 10 April 2026. He said the UAVs are designed to counter Shahed-style one-way attack UAVs.

The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) said in a press release on 10 April that the first tranche of interceptor UAVs and launchers would be delivered in May, followed by more within six months of the contract signing. An MoD spokesperson told Janes on 13 April that the contract would be signed in “the near future” without specifying a date. The multi-million pound contract will include integration, technical support and end user training, according to the UK MoD.

Cambridge Aerospace unveiled Skyhammer and displayed a mock-up of the interceptor UAV at the Defence and Security Equipment International (DSEI) 2025 exhibition held in London on 9-12 September. On 1 September 2025, the company described itself in a media advisory as “a fully sovereign British high-technology company which aims to eliminate the risk of missile strikes on NATO and its allies”. It said that Skyhammer is a low-cost, rapidly scalable interceptor of cruise missiles and large UAVs. It added that testing of the Skyhammer began in early 2025 and that it uses Cambridge Aerospace's proprietary information and the company's own supply chains to reduce costs and increase long-term supply chain resilience.