UK funds three suppliers to develop new low-cost interceptors under LCADE
The UK will fund three suppliers to develop new low-cost interceptors under a joint defense program with Poland, France, Italy and Germany.
On July 13, 2026, the UK’s Ministry of Defense (MOD) said it has become the first of the countries to act under the Low-cost Air Defense Effectors (LCADE) program.
Interceptors are designed to provide a more affordable way to counter drones as opposed to traditional air defense systems.
The MOD is awarding $4.2 million (£3.16 million) to Frankenberg Technologies, Greenjets and Cambridge Aerospace, who will now develop and trial their designs.
The contracts were delivered by Commercial X, which is part of the National Armaments Director (NAD) Group, which in turn is part of the wider European effort known as Low‑Cost Effectors and Autonomous Platforms (LEAP).
“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,” National Armaments Director Rupert Pearce said.
He added: “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 next phase will focus on identifying solutions that can potentially be produced in large numbers across the five partner nations.
This will require strong manufacturing capacity and reliable supply chains to ensure the systems can be delivered quickly and at scale.
“We are extremely proud to have been awarded this contract under LCADE and to be demonstrating the role innovative British businesses can play in rapidly strengthening national defence capabilities,” Anmol Manohar, CEO for Greenjets, said. “We look forward to working with the MoD and our partners as we move into demonstration trials later this year.”
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The UK will fund three suppliers to develop new low-cost interceptors under a joint defense program with Poland,…
The post UK funds three suppliers to develop new low-cost interceptors under LCADE appeared first on AeroTime.
