Cambridge Aerospace
Cambridge Aerospace is a UK defence technology startup that develops low-cost jet-powered interceptor missiles (Skyhammer, Starhammer) to counter Shahed-type drones and cruise missiles for government defence ministries.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2024
- HeadquartersCambridge, United Kingdom
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Cambridge Aerospace does
Cambridge Aerospace Ltd is a UK defence technology startup founded in late 2024 that develops low-cost kinetic interceptor systems to address the cost asymmetry between inexpensive drone and cruise missile threats and traditional surface-to-air missile defences. The company's core product, Skyhammer, is a tube-launched, jet-powered interceptor missile with a stated range exceeding 30 km and a top speed of 700 km/h, featuring an onboard active X-band radar seeker that enables autonomous terminal guidance without reliance on external radar infrastructure. A second system, Starhammer, is being co-developed with the US Army's 52nd Air Defense Artillery Brigade as a low-cost counter-cruise-missile capability intended for integration into joint-force and European multinational exercises. The platform is explicitly positioned against the economics of using ~$4M Patriot interceptors to defeat ~$35,000 Shahed-type drones.
The company sells hardware directly to sovereign defence buyers through multi-million-pound fixed-price procurement contracts. The UK Ministry of Defence is the first confirmed customer, having signed a contract in April 2026 for hundreds of Skyhammer interceptors and launchers, with first deliveries beginning in May 2026. Cambridge Aerospace is pursuing adjacent demand from Gulf Cooperation Council states (UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain) via UK MOD-facilitated procurement meetings and from US and NATO forces through Project Bullfrog evaluation and a pending G-TEAD Operational Assessment. The company has raised $136 million across three funding rounds (with Spark Capital identified as a prior lead investor at a $400 million valuation) and is in talks as of March 2026 for an additional ~$200 million at a valuation exceeding $1 billion. It employs over 125 people and is chaired by former UK Defence Secretary Grant Shapps.
Cambridge Aerospace firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Cambridge Aerospace
- Legal name
- Cambridge Aerospace Ltd
- Website
- https://cambridgeaerospace.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2024
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Cambridge Aerospace is a UK defence technology startup that develops low-cost jet-powered interceptor missiles (Skyhammer, Starhammer) to counter Shahed-type drones and cruise missiles for government defence ministries.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Cambridge Aerospace industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Defence Air Defence Systems
- NAICS
- Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Manufacturing (336414), Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Propulsion Unit and Propulsion Unit Parts Manufacturing (336415), Search, Detection, Navigation, Guidance, Aeronautical, and Nautical System and Instrument Manufacturing (334511)
- SIC
- Guided Missiles & Space Vehicles & Parts (3760), Search, Detection, Navagation, Guidance, Aeronautical Sys (3812)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Air Defense Missiles & Interceptors (IMABAHAD)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Tactical & Strategic Missile Systems (IMABAHAB), Guidance, Navigation & Control (GNC) Electronics for Weapons (IMABAGAH)
Keywords
Where Cambridge Aerospace is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Cambridge
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Cambridge Aerospace business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Skyhammer Interceptor Missile Sales: One-time hardware sales of tube-launched interceptor missiles and launcher systems to government defence ministries. Contracts are multi-million-pound fixed-price procurement deals, with the UK MOD contract representing the first major confirmed order.
- Starhammer System Development: Co-development revenue from partnerships with government agencies (e.g., 52nd Air Defense Artillery Brigade) to develop the Starhammer low-cost cruise missile defeat capability, potentially leading to future procurement contracts.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | Government defence procurement — multi-million-pound contracts for interceptor missiles and launchers |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels4 records
Cambridge Aerospace product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Cambridge Aerospace designs and manufactures low-cost jet-powered interceptor missile systems for counter-UAS and air defence applications. Its core product, the Skyhammer, is a tube-launched interceptor with a range exceeding 30 km and a top speed of 700 km/h, featuring an onboard active X-band radar seeker for autonomous terminal guidance against targets such as Iranian Shahed-type attack drones. The company also develops the Starhammer low-cost counter-cruise-missile capability in collaboration with the US Army's 52nd Air Defense Artillery Brigade.
Product overview
Cambridge Aerospace is a UK defense startup developing a portfolio of interceptor systems addressing the cost asymmetry between expensive traditional air defense missiles and cheap drones. The core products are Skyhammer (jet-powered drone/missile interceptor) and Starhammer (low-cost cruise missile defeat capability), both designed for rapid deployment against Shahed-type drones. Skyhammer is a tube-launched system with 30km range and 700 km/h speed, using onboard active X-band radar for terminal guidance. Starhammer is positioned as an complementary low-cost counter-cruise-missile solution.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Skyhammer: Jet-powered drone and missile interceptor system with 30km range and 700 km/h top speed, featuring onboard mini-radar seeker for terminal guidance. Designed to counter Iranian Shahed-type drones.
- Starhammer
Products and services
- Skyhammer Jet-powered drone and missile interceptor system designed to counter Iranian Shahed-type attack drones. Tube-launched with a range exceeding 30 km and top speed of 700 km/h (430 mph), featuring onboard mini-radar seeker using active X-band radar for autonomous terminal guidance. Sold to government defence ministries.
- Starhammer Low-cost counter-cruise-missile capability being developed in collaboration with the 52nd Air Defense Artillery Brigade. Designed to defeat low-cost cruise missiles and integrate into joint-force and European multinational exercises.
Quantifiable outcome
- Counter drone threats at a fraction of traditional interceptor cost (Shahed drones ~$35,000 vs Patriot missiles ~$4M)
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Cambridge Aerospace
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Cambridge Aerospace technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Cambridge Aerospace partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.
- Deep ElementcoreDeep Element operates the Jordanian defence development site where Skyhammer interceptor missiles were successfully tested. The UK Ministry of Defence signed its contract with Cambridge Aerospace less than two weeks before the April 2026 test at the Deep Element facility, suggesting operational/integration collaboration on testing infrastructure.
- UK Ministry of Defence (National Armaments Director)flagshipUK MOD is both a primary customer and a strategic partner, facilitating Gulf state procurement of Cambridge Aerospace products. A new task force under the National Armaments Director has been established to address financing and export processes for potential deals. The MOD also organised a meeting between seven Gulf states and 13 UK defence companies to promote rapid procurement.
- 52nd Air Defense Artillery Brigade (US Army)coreThe brigade conducted system-level testing of Skyhammer during 'Project Bullfrog' in Europe, evaluating its integration potential as part of the Eastern Flank Deterrence Initiative. The brigade is also collaborating with Cambridge Aerospace on Starhammer (low-cost cruise missile defeat), with plans to integrate it into joint-force and European multinational exercises. G-TEAD is expected to invite Cambridge Aerospace for an Operational Assessment.
- Grant Shapps (Chairman)flagshipFormer UK Defence Secretary Grant Shapps serves as Chairman of Cambridge Aerospace, providing direct government access, procurement credibility, and high-level political connections. His involvement accelerated the unusually fast procurement timeline and facilitates ongoing government relationships.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Cambridge Aerospace competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Anduril Industries: US-based defence tech company developing counter-UAS systems including the Roadrunner drone interceptor and Lattice command-and-control software. Highly comparable as a venture-backed, software-and-hardware counter-drone platform targeting US/UK/NATO defence ministries.
- Epirus: US counter-electronics company fielding the Leonidas high-power microwave system for drone swarm defeat. Comparable as a venture-backed, next-generation counter-UAS effectors company pursuing defence ministry contracts with a software-defined approach.
- DroneShield: Australia-listed counter-UAS specialist offering DroneGun, DroneSentry, and DroneSentry-X detection and kinetic defeat solutions. Directly comparable as a pure-play counter-drone vendor selling to Western and allied defence forces.
- Liteye Systems: US counter-UAS and defence electronics integrator offering multi-sensor detection and kinetic defeat packages to US Army, NATO, and homeland security customers. Comparable as a Western counter-UAS systems provider at a similar scale to Cambridge Aerospace.
- Fortem Technologies: US counter-UAS company fielding DroneHunter — an autonomous interceptor drone designed to physically capture threatening drones. Comparable in targeting the cost-effective kinetic defeat of small drones against defence and homeland security customers.
- MARSS Group: UK-based counter-UAS and integrated security systems company selling Interceptor and RADAR CUAS platforms to defence and critical infrastructure customers. Directly comparable as a UK-headquartered counter-drone vendor with a kinetic defeat product.
Broad incumbents
- Lockheed Martin: US defence prime producing the Patriot PAC-3 air defence system and a range of counter-drone capabilities. Comparable as the primary incumbent whose $4M-per-interceptor economics Cambridge Aerospace's cost proposition explicitly contrasts against.
- Raytheon (RTX): US defence prime and co-manufacturer of the Patriot system, with a growing counter-UAS portfolio (Coyote, KuRFS). Comparable as the broad incumbent with deep prime-contractor relationships across US, UK, and Gulf defence ministries.
- MBDA: European missile systems prime (joint venture of Airbus, BAE Systems, Leonardo) producing air defence systems including Mistral, CAMM, and Aster. Comparable as the established European incumbent in missile-based air defence that Cambridge Aerospace is positioned against.
Emerging players
- Zen Technologies: India-listed defence technology company offering anti-drone systems, smart targets, and training simulators to military customers. Comparable as an emerging defence-tech player pursuing counter-UAS opportunities in adjacent geographies and customer segments.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Cambridge Aerospace social profiles
Digital presenceCambridge Aerospace financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Cambridge Aerospace leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Cambridge Aerospace funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds3 records
Investors12 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Cambridge Aerospace M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Cambridge Aerospace
What does Cambridge Aerospace do?
Cambridge Aerospace designs and manufactures low-cost jet-powered interceptor missile systems for counter-UAS and air defence applications. Its core product, the Skyhammer, is a tube-launched interceptor with a range exceeding 30 km and a top speed of 700 km/h, featuring an onboard active X-band radar seeker for autonomous terminal guidance against targets such as Iranian Shahed-type attack drones. The company also develops the Starhammer low-cost counter-cruise-missile capability in collaboration with the US Army's 52nd Air Defense Artillery Brigade.
Is Cambridge Aerospace a public or private company?
Cambridge Aerospace is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Cambridge Aerospace founded?
Cambridge Aerospace was founded in 2024. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Cambridge Aerospace based?
Cambridge Aerospace is headquartered in Cambridge, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Cambridge Aerospace make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Skyhammer Interceptor Missile Sales are the primary driver. The others are starhammer System Development.
Who are Cambridge Aerospace's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Anduril Industries, Epirus, DroneShield, Liteye Systems, Fortem Technologies and MARSS Group. Broad incumbents are Lockheed Martin, Raytheon (RTX) and MBDA. Zen Technologies is listed as an emerging player.
Does Cambridge Aerospace have an API?
No public API is recorded for Cambridge Aerospace.
What industry is Cambridge Aerospace in?
Cambridge Aerospace's product category is Defence Air Defence Systems. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMABAHAD, Air Defense Missiles & Interceptors, with a secondary code of IMABAHAB, Tactical & Strategic Missile Systems. Its NAICS code is 336414 and its SIC code is 3760.