Defence Online

£12M contract for Hypersonic missiles to benefit British-based businesses

Land February 18, 2026

The Ministry of Defence has awarded a £12 million contract to Amentum UK to accelerate the development of a sovereign hypersonic missile capability, marking a significant step in the UK’s long-term strike strategy.

The Warrington-based engineering contractor will lead a consortium including Wiltshire-based Ebeni and London-based Synthetik to deliver the design for a hypersonic system. This project will progress through high-fidelity flight testing before being transitioned into prototype missiles capable of withstanding the extreme thermal and aerodynamic stresses associated with hypersonic flight. The initiative is a direct response to the Strategic Defence Review (SDR), which identified long-range, high-speed precision weapons as a critical requirement for modern warfighting and NATO deterrence.

For the UK defence supply chain, this contract underscores a shift toward more agile procurement and deeper integration of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). Since July 2024, the hypersonics programme has awarded 22 contracts worth an estimated £48 million to a pool of 124 suppliers, more than 50% of which are SMEs. The appointment of Amentum UK utilizes an “Industry Mission Partner” model, designed to break down traditional organisational silos by fostering collaboration between prime contractors, SMEs, and academia. A notable feature of this partnership is the inclusion of reverse mentoring arrangements, which are intended to reduce barriers to entry for smaller firms and ensure that innovative sub-tier technologies are effectively integrated into the national sovereign capability.

The speed of this award is indicative of a broader reform in MoD acquisition processes. The contract was finalised just 31 days after the invitation to tender was issued, a timeline delivered by the MoD’s Commercial X team. This group is tasked with modernising procurement to ensure that ground-breaking technologies reach the frontline at an accelerated pace. For businesses seeking to enter the defence sector, this demonstrate a commitment to cutting administrative bureaucracy and providing a faster route from concept to contract. This agility is supported by the government’s commitment to increase defence spending to 2.6% of GDP by 2027, providing the financial stability required for multi-year technology programmes.

The ultimate objective of Team Hypersonics (UK) is to field a viable hypersonic strike capability with a weapon system demonstrator scheduled for completion by the end of the decade. As the programme moves toward flight testing, further opportunities are expected to emerge for suppliers specialising in advanced materials, high-temperature sensors, and complex guidance systems. This investment not only strengthens national security but also bolsters the UK’s industrial standing within NATO, ensuring that British workers and businesses remain at the forefront of global missile technology development.

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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.