UK's TigerShark drone hits 900 km range, enters service in 2026

British company MGI Engineering has unveiled the TigerShark strike drone, which by its characteristics approaches a cruise missile. The aircraft can engage targets at ranges up to 900 km, reaching speeds of 750 km/h and carrying a payload of up to 300 kg.

The development is part of Project Brakestop, a UK Ministry of Defence initiative to create long-range autonomous strike systems. According to the designers, TigerShark is intended for precision strikes on high-value targets deep behind enemy lines and belongs to the class of one-way effectors.

The key feature of the drone is its autonomous guidance system that does not rely on satellite navigation. It combines inertial navigation with terrain mapping, allowing the aircraft to operate in conditions of GPS jamming or spoofing. As MGI Engineering stated, TigerShark enables defense forces to hit protected or remote targets with speed, accuracy, and autonomy without depending on satellites or real-time control.

Depending on the mission, the drone can carry either a warhead or electronic warfare equipment weighing up to 300 kg. The first public showcase of TigerShark took place at the DSEI exhibition in London in September 2025, and the first flight tests were conducted in April 2026.

The company plans to start deliveries in October 2026, with production scaling beginning in the fourth quarter of the same year. TigerShark will be manufactured in the UK and offered for export to allied nations.

Earlier, British company Rotron Aerospace demonstrated tests of the SkyLance long-range kamikaze drone, which also operates without GPS. Meanwhile, Germany's MBDA Deutschland is developing the multi-purpose ALE effector, which can be launched from helicopters, ships, boats, and unmanned aerial vehicles.