July marked a major milestone in British defence innovation as MGI Engineering, a company forged in the fast-paced world of Formula 1, officially unveiled SkyShark, a next-generation military drone platform designed to transform battlefield operations with speed, precision, and UK-built sovereignty.
At a live showcase event hosted at Enstone Airfield in Oxfordshire on the 11 July, MGI demonstrated its SkyShark one-way effector (OWE) platform that places the company at the vanguard of tactical unmanned systems innovation.
Two variants of the Skyshark OWE platform were revealed:
- SkyShark with Argive A300 Gas Turbine Engines – Developed in collaboration with Oxford-based Argive Ltd, this version brings entirely sovereign propulsion to the forefront of UK defence, offering rapid deployment and strike capability without reliance on overseas manufacturers.
- SkyShark with Greenjets HS125 Electric Ducted Fan Engines – A quiet, fully electric powertrain designed for low-signature missions, highlighting the potential for efficient, cost-effective and scalable drone operations in high-risk theatres.
Compact, cost-effective and rapidly manufactured at scale, SkyShark is engineered to conduct ISR, strike, and decoy operations in GPS-denied or highly contested environments, making it a strategic asset in an era of asymmetric warfare.
Mike Gascoyne, founder and CEO at MGI Engineering, said: “In an era of strategic instability, we believe the UK must move fast, think independently, and build smart. SkyShark is our contribution to the UK overcoming the challenge of long-range, low-cost and scalable OWEs.
“This platform is the result of British innovation firing on all cylinders, pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in autonomous, operational strike capability. From propulsion to payload, everything we’ve launched today was designed, built, and tested on home soil.”
Argive, a UK business specialising in microturbines and other propulsion technologies, developed the high-performance gas turbine engine that powers the turbine variant of SkyShark. Their work enabled a compact, efficient, and sovereign propulsion system that delivers exceptional thrust-to-weight performance for tactical strike missions.
Rob Joles, Commercial Director at Argive, said: “Collaborating with MGI on the SkyShark project is a clear demonstration of what can happen when two high-performance engineering cultures converge. Our advanced metal manufacturing and design technologies enabled a new generation of lightweight, efficient, and fully sovereign gas turbines that give SkyShark an unmatched tactical edge at range.”
Greenjets, leaders in electric high-speed propulsion, partnered with MGI to create the fully electric variant of SkyShark. Designed for low-signature missions, this version combines efficient energy with military-grade performance, offering a quiet, low-signature platform ideal for ISR and strike missions in high-risk theatres.
Dr Guido Monterzino, CTO at Greenjets, said: “Our mission at Greenjets is to bring high-performance electric propulsion to the aviation world. This collaboration with MGI Engineering is a celebration of UK innovation and shows what’s possible when bold ideas meet precision execution.
“The electric powered SkyShark proves that tactical capability doesn’t mean compromising on cost or operational effectiveness. It’s a scalable platform for modern operations, and a glimpse of where defence aviation could be heading.”
Image: MGI Engineering
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Post written by: Vicky Maggiani
Vicky has worked in media for over 25 years and has a wealth of experience in editing and creating copy for a variety of sectors.
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