UK firm taps racing tech to build new long-range drones for Ukraine

Defense Express reported the information.

MGI Engineering, a firm founded by former Formula 1 car designer Mike Gascoyne, has announced it will begin sending its new SkyShark "rocket-drones" to Ukraine as early as mid-October. The move signals a significant pivot for the company, applying the rapid innovation and cost-effective principles of motorsport to modern warfare. The SkyShark, a jet-powered 'kamikaze' drone, is designed to strike targets up to 250 kilometers away while carrying a 20 kg warhead.

In an interview, Gascoyne revealed that the drone was developed as a sovereign UK technological solution, adaptable for mass production at a remarkably low price point of approximately $67,000 per unit. This cost-conscious approach, he noted, is a direct lesson from Ukraine's wartime needs. "The reality is that Ukraine is now showing everyone that everything has to be implemented at cost," Gascoyne stated. "It shouldn't be a missile costing a couple of million pounds."

The SkyShark is engineered to operate effectively even when satellite navigation systems are jammed. Beyond the initial deliveries, several Ukrainian companies have already expressed interest in licensing the technology for local production.

Furthermore, MGI Engineering is expanding its arsenal with the development of the TigerShark, a formidable cruise missile scheduled for its first flight test in November. This larger weapon is designed to carry a 300 kg warhead over a distance of 550 kilometers. Priced at around $539,000, the TigerShark represents a cost-effective alternative to traditional long-range missiles, reinforcing the company's mission to leverage its F1 engineering expertise in support of Ukraine.

photo: TigerShark