The United Kingdom has taken a decisive step toward fielding advanced hypersonic weapons, awarding a £12 million contract to a consortium led by Warrington-based engineering firm Amentum UK. The agreement marks a significant milestone in Britain’s efforts to develop sovereign strike capabilities capable of operating at extreme speeds and temperatures.
Supporting Amentum are specialist firms Ebeni and Synthetik, based in Wiltshire and London respectively. The partnership will provide critical engineering expertise to develop a hypersonic system design, which will undergo flight testing before being adapted into prototype missiles. These weapons must withstand the intense thermal and aerodynamic stresses of flight at speeds exceeding Mach 5.
The initiative directly supports conclusions from the government’s Strategic Defence Review, which identified hypersonic missiles as essential to modern warfare. By building indigenous capability for these long-range, precision weapons, the UK aims to strengthen national security while enhancing NATO’s collective deterrence posture.
Defence Minister for Readiness and Industry Luke Pollard emphasized the strategic urgency. “In this new era of threat, we need a new era for defence,” he stated. “This means moving quicker to develop and buy the cutting-edge technologies our Armed Forces need for modern warfighting.” Pollard highlighted the dual objectives of national security and economic growth, noting the contract would “back British workers.”
The award represents accelerated momentum within the UK’s hypersonics programme since July 2024. During this period, 124 suppliers—over half being small and medium enterprises—have secured 22 contracts across various technology areas, with total estimated value reaching £48 million. Notably, a significant portion of funding is flowing to SMEs, including direct allocations to Ebeni and Synthetik, who have been integral from the programme’s outset.
The partnership incorporates innovative reverse mentoring arrangements, designed to reduce barriers for smaller businesses and promote collaborative working across the supply chain. Remarkably, the contract was awarded just 31 days after invitation to tender, demonstrating the Ministry of Defence’s commitment to streamlining procurement processes through its Commercial X team.
Rupert Pearce, National Armaments Director, praised the collaborative approach. “This Industry Mission Partner model breaks down traditional organisational boundaries and creates the collaborative environment we need to deliver this critical sovereign capability,” he explained. “We are not only advancing our hypersonic ambitions but also strengthening our defence industrial base.”
The programme operates within the broader context of the largest sustained increase in defence spending since the Cold War’s end, with expenditure reaching 2.6% of GDP from 2027. Team Hypersonics (UK) Programme Director Cdr Paul Greason emphasized the importance of swift commercial activity to maintain challenging timelines, expressing gratitude for meeting the fundamental challenge of establishing a successful partnership.
Amentum and its subcontractors will operate as part of a fully integrated Team Hypersonics, working toward developing a weapons system demonstrator by decade’s end.
