The UK has become the first European nation to award contracts under a multinational programme aimed at developing affordable air defence systems capable of countering the growing threat posed by drones and missiles.
The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has awarded £3.16 million to three companies to develop low-cost interceptors designed to destroy drones and other airborne threats. The contracts form part of the Low-Cost Air Defence Effectors (LCADE) programme, which is being delivered by the National Armaments Director (NAD) Group.
The initiative comes as armed forces increasingly face attacks from large numbers of inexpensive, mass-produced drones that can overwhelm conventional air defence networks. The conflict in Ukraine has demonstrated the scale of the challenge, with Russia launching the equivalent of more than 200 drones per day during March 2026 alone.
LCADE forms part of the wider Low-Cost Effectors and Autonomous Platforms (LEAP) programme, a collaborative effort between the UK, Poland, France, Italy and Germany. The five nations are working together to develop affordable air defence effectors and autonomous systems, while strengthening industrial co-operation across Europe.
Under the latest contracts, SMEs
Frankenberg Technologies ,
Greenjets and
Cambridge Aerospace will develop and trial interceptor concepts for potential future deployment. The companies have operations in locations including Cambridge, Milton Keynes, Bristol and Stevenage, and have committed to developing manufacturing capability in the UK.
The MOD said the programme is intended not only to strengthen defence capabilities but also to support British jobs, manufacturing and innovation. Cambridge Aerospace is a relatively new entrant to the defence sector, highlighting efforts to broaden access to procurement opportunities for emerging suppliers.
The contracts were awarded through Commercial X, a specialist NAD Group team established to accelerate defence procurement and reduce barriers for smaller businesses seeking to bring innovative technologies into service.
The next phase of the programme will focus on identifying solutions that can be manufactured rapidly and at scale across the five partner nations, supported by robust supply chains and production capacity.
National Armaments Director Rupert Pearce said: “With the award of these contracts, Commercial X and the LCADE programme are demonstrating the powerful, low-cost capabilities we can deliver when we open up Defence and collaborate with some of the UK’s most agile, innovative companies. Through the LEAP programme, we are joining forces across borders to rapidly procure new systems, supporting both the UK and our allies against the growing mass drone threat.”
The successful companies welcomed the awards and emphasised the potential for UK industry to play a major role in developing affordable air defence technologies.
Greenjets chief executive Anmol Manohar said the company was proud to have secured a contract and looked forward to progressing to demonstration trials later this year. Cambridge Aerospace chief executive Steven Barrett described the award as an important step in delivering low-cost, high-volume interceptor systems for UK and European customers.
Meanwhile, Frankenberg Technologies managing director Dan Hallett said the programme would support the development of low-cost missiles manufactured in the UK to counter increasingly large-scale drone attacks.
The LCADE programme reflects a growing focus among European nations on affordable, scalable air defence solutions to address evolving aerial threats.