UK-Ukraine Missile Integration: MGI Engineering Unveils October Launch for 900km TigerShark under Project Brakestop
The joint defense partnership between the United Kingdom and Ukraine is entering a highly advanced phase of industrial mobilization. Developed under the UK Ministry of Defence's Project Brakestop—an initiative to bypass U.S. ITAR export regulations by producing entirely ITAR-free, low-cost long-range strike weapons1—the TigerShark autonomous strike drone is transitioning from prototype to active production.
TigerShark Technical Specifications and Capabilities
MGI Defence (a subsidiary of Oxfordshire-based MGI Engineering, known for its Formula 1, Formula E, and Dakar Rally engineering heritage) has detailed the final technical specifications of the TigerShark. Described as an affordable, single-use "one-way effector" intermediate-range cruise missile, the TigerShark features:
- Range: 900 kilometers (559 miles).
- Speed: Up to 750 km/h (466 mph).
- Payload: 300 kilograms (661 pounds).
- Propulsion: Ground-launched from a mobile vehicle via a rocket-assisted takeoff, after which twin turbojet engines engage and the rocket booster detaches.
- Guidance & Navigation: Equipped with a dual-technology suite designed to operate in high-jamming, GPS-denied environments. It combines inertial navigation (tracking position relative to the launch point) with a GPS-free terrain-mapping system that adjusts the flight path based on real-time visual correlation with pre-loaded terrain maps.
MGI Defence outlined the tactical deployment model for the weapon, emphasizing its design for massed salvos:
"TigerShark enables defence forces to engage defended or distant targets with speed, precision, and autonomy, without relying on satellite navigation or real-time control... Built for coordinated launch and rapid deployment, TigerShark can be fired as a salvo from a land-based vehicle launcher to overwhelm or degrade enemy defences."
Production and Export Timeline
MGI Defence has announced that the TigerShark will be manufactured in the UK and will become commercially available starting October 2026 under UK export licenses to friendly countries, including Ukraine.
MGI Defence exhibited the TigerShark alongside other Project Brakestop components at the DALO Industry Days exhibition in Herning, Denmark (August 19–20, 2026), where they coordinated with European partners on joint procurement and collaborative combat aircraft (CCA) design.
The introduction of the TigerShark represents a major structural shift in Ukraine's long-range strike options, providing a massive, low-cost stockpile of intermediate-range weapons capable of striking deep-seated Russian logistical and command targets without the political restrictions or export barriers associated with U.S.-sourced components.
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An instance of Wartime military assistance must transition to domestic production to survive prolonged conflict. — To sustain long-term operations, defense partnerships must establish domestic, export-unrestricted assembly lines for advanced autonomous strike systems. ↩︎