Work is underway in the United Kingdom to integrate the Skyhammer high-speed interceptor drone, capable of reaching 700 km/h, with the ORCUS counter-unmanned aerial vehicle system actively used by the Royal Air Force. According to UK Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry Luke Pollard, recent trials successfully tested the operation of the jet interceptor drone integrated with elements of the ORCUS counter-UAV system, while further work on the control and sensor systems continues.
The UK Defence Journal reported that the Skyhammer interceptor was developed by British defense company Cambridge Aerospace to counter Shahed-type strike drones. The rocket-drone has a flight range of up to 30 kilometers, a maximum speed of approx. 700 km/h, and a warhead weight of 2 kg. Prior to launch, the drone receives target data from an external control system, and subsequently pursues and strikes the target using its onboard equipment.
The ORCUS system operates on a modular architecture combining both passive and active sensors, including radars, electronic intelligence assets, radio frequency signal detection systems, and ultra-long-range thermal imagers. Developed by Leonardo UK under the Royal Air Force's "Project Synergia" counter-UAV program, ORCUS is widely used to safeguard military installations, air bases, civilian airports, and mass gatherings. The system can be rapidly transported, deployed quickly in high-risk locations, and fits inside the cargo compartment of an American Chinook transport helicopter.
Defense Express noted that integrating the Skyhammer into ORCUS offers a relatively inexpensive capability to defeat jet-powered drones amid a shortage of traditional, costly interceptor missiles. Such shortages are currently relevant in Persian Gulf countries, where according to preliminary information Britain planned to transfer Skyhammer interceptors. In May 2026, the rocket-drone was tested under desert conditions in Jordan, and in 2026 Britain delivered the ORCUS counter-UAV system to Kuwait.
