Un drone kamikaze que alcanza altas velocidades ha sido desarrollado por las compañías británicas MGI Engineering y Argive Ltd. El Sistema Aéreo Autónomo (UAS) denominado SkyShark, está especialmente concebido para misiones de inteligencia, ataque o actuar como señuelos, en escenarios de batalla complejos y con denegación de señal GPS, Se presenta en dos variantes: Una es propulsada por un motor jet y la otra por motor eléctrico. Puede alcanzar velocidades de hasta 450 km/h, atacar blancos a 150 km y llevar una carga letal de 20 kg. Las lecciones de la guerra de Ucrania pusieron en evidencia, que los países deben alcanzar el mayor grado de autosuficiencia posible en el desarrollo y producción de sistemas vitales para la defensa.
A British engineering company led by a former Formula 1 technical director has unveiled a new military drone platform that it says could change how the UK conducts operations on the battlefield.
MGI Engineering officially introduced its next-generation drone system, SkyShark, at a live demonstration at Enstone Airfield in Oxfordshire on July 11.
The unmanned aerial system is designed for intelligence gathering, strike, and decoy missions and can be deployed in GPS-denied or high-risk environments.
World’s fastest kamikaze drone
The drone comes in two versions. One uses a gas turbine engine developed by Argive Ltd, a UK-based propulsion company, offering what MGI calls a fully sovereign capability.
The second version is powered by an electric ducted fan engine developed by Greenjets, designed for low-signature missions requiring stealth and efficiency.
“This platform is the result of British innovation firing on all cylinders,” said Mike Gascoyne, founder and CEO of MGI Engineering.
“From propulsion to payload, everything we’ve launched today was designed, built, and tested on home soil.”
SkyShark is described as a one-way effector (OWE), a class of unmanned systems that can carry out long-range missions without needing recovery.
During the official launch, MGI said the SkyShark can reach speeds of more than 280 mph (450 kph), strike targets at ranges up to 155 miles (250 kilometers), and carry a 44-pound (20-kilogram) warhead.
It also uses a terrain contour matching, or TERCOM, navigation system, allowing it to operate without relying on satellite signals, an important capability for missions in GPS-denied or jammed environments.
Both variants are compact, cost-effective, and engineered for rapid manufacturing, which officials say makes them ideal for scale-up during large conflicts.
The gas turbine version uses Argive’s engine, as shown in document number 1. This engine is designed for tactical missions that need high thrust-to-weight performance.
Lessons from the war in Ukraine
The collaboration with Argive, based in Oxford, ensures that key propulsion technologies are built in the UK.
“Working with MGI shows what happens when two high-performance engineering cultures combine,” said Rob Joles, commercial director at Argive.
“Our design and manufacturing systems have helped deliver a sovereign engine solution that gives SkyShark a real tactical advantage.”
The electric version uses Greenjets’ HS125 propulsion system. It is designed for quieter operations in challenging environments.
This version focuses on being stealthy and cost-effective, which matches the increasing military interest in electric aircraft for unmanned missions.
Dr. Guido Monterzino, chief technology officer at Greenjets, said the project represents a step forward in bringing high-speed electric propulsion to defense.
“The electric-powered SkyShark proves that tactical capability doesn’t have to come at the cost of affordability or mission performance,” Monterzino said. “This is a glimpse of where battlefield aviation is going.”
Defense officials and industry representatives demonstrated both variants at the launch event.
The company highlighted that SkyShark was developed entirely in the UK, without dependence on foreign suppliers.
With global interest growing in attritable drones and low-cost systems that can be deployed in large numbers and sacrificed if necessary, MGI hopes SkyShark will offer the UK military a competitive edge in future conflicts.
“In an era of strategic instability, we believe the UK must move fast, think independently, and build smart,” said Gascoyne. “SkyShark is our answer to that challenge.”
The project is part of the UK’s efforts to improve drone technology. This push is especially important because of the learning from the war in Ukraine, where drones have been key in modern battles.
Update: The headline of this article was changed from “World’s fastest kamikaze drone powered by F1 aerodynamics hits 280 mph speed” after an F1 official contacted Interesting Engineering, stating that the organization does not wish to be associated with “kamikaze drones.”
