The UK Ministry of Defence (MOD) has awarded a £20 million contract to Lockheed Martin UK for Project Bowline, a program aimed at developing a hypersonic target to bolster UK and allied missile defence capabilities.
This significant investment marks the MOD's return to hypersonic target development after more than a decade, rebuilding sovereign expertise in advanced targets. The contract, awarded by the National Armaments Director (NAD) Group, is expected to create approximately 63 jobs in Bedfordshire and inject £2 million into the supply chain, with a substantial portion benefiting UK small and medium-sized enterprises.
National Armaments Director Rupert Pearce emphasized the importance of the project, stating, "Delivering Project Bowline will help ensure the UK stays ahead of rapidly evolving hypersonic threats." He added that working with AUKUS partners and investing in advanced missile technology strengthens the national arsenal and supports effective missile defence.
Project Bowline also fosters international collaboration under the AUKUS Pillar 2 Hypersonic Flight Test and Experimentation (HyFliTE) Project Arrangement, involving the UK, United States, and Australia. Lockheed Martin UK will design, manufacture, qualify, and test a hypersonic target capable of speeds exceeding Mach 5, culminating in a live flight demonstration planned for 2027 at the MOD Hebrides Range to assess next-generation missile defence systems.