Hypersonic Weapon System Amentum Chosen to Propel UK Hypersonic Strike Development

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Amentum

GGB Heilbronn GmbH

Amentum will provide missile design engineering to support the UK’s development of hypersonic strike capabilities. The Industry Mission Partner (IMP) contract aims to accelerate weapon development, enhance sovereign capability, and strengthen collaboration with Australia and the US through the AUKUS agreement.

A £12 million investment in hypersonic missiles and systems has been made with Warrington-based engineering contractor, Amentum UK. Amentum will establish a joint programme office and a system engineering delivery advisory team to define detailed engineering design requirements for the MOD’s hypersonic weapon system demonstrator and evaluate flight testing options. 

Supported by Ebeni and Synthetik, based in Wiltshire and London respectively, they will deliver engineering expertise to develop the design for the hypersonic system, which will be demonstrated through flight testing before being adapted into prototype missiles able to operate at extreme speeds and temperatures required for hypersonic flight.

Under the IMP contract, Amentum will provide end-to-end project lifecycle solutions, including systems engineering, mission planning, sensor platform integration, test design and execution, safety systems, and cost analysis. The contract spans 15 months, with an option to extend for an additional three years to support future programme phases. 

“We will bring extensive global defence expertise and deep understanding of hypersonic technologies to this vitally important programme,” said Loren Jones, senior vice president and head of Amentum’s Energy and Environment–International business.“ Amentum’s technology partners and our advanced engineering capabilities will drive innovation and collaboration across the supply chain, supporting the UK’s national security strategy.”

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Strengthening the UK defence industrial base

“This contract exemplifies the innovative partnership approach at the heart of the UK Defence Industrial Strategy, bringing together expertise from defence, large companies, SMEs, and academia to deliver at pace,” said Rupert Pearce, the MOD’s national armaments director. “The IMP model removes traditional organisational boundaries and creates a collaborative environment essential for delivering this critical sovereign capability. We are advancing our hypersonic ambitions while strengthening the defence industrial base and supporting jobs across the UK.”

The Strategic Defence Review (SDR) highlighted the importance of hypersonic missiles to modern warfighting and the advances announced today will help deliver on the SDR conclusions. Building sovereign capability of these long-range, high-speed precision weapons will help protect the UK and our allies, and boost NATO deterrence. The Government is delivering the largest sustained increase in defence spending since the end of the Cold War, hitting 2.6 percent of GDP from 2027.

In this new era of threat, we need a new era for defence. This means moving quicker to develop and buy the cutting-edge technologies our Armed Forces need for modern warfighting. We are making defence an engine for growth. This contract will accelerate the UK’s development of sovereign hypersonic missile capability, strengthen our national security and back British workers.

UK's Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry Luke Pollard