Plan for £24m drone-busting missile factory lodged
PA MediaMissiles used to shoot down military drones could be built and tested on a former airbase in rural Norfolk.
Cambridge Aerospace, which was founded two years ago and is already said to be worth $3.4bn (£2.51bn), has a contract to supply the Ministry of Defence (MoD) with "Skyhammer" missiles.
It wants to expand its operation at Scottow, the site of the old RAF Coltishall base, which closed in 2006.
The firm said its proposals would involve around £24m of investment and it has applied to North Norfolk District Council (NNDC) for planning permission.
Established in 2024, Cambridge Aerospace says its mission is "to eliminate the risk of existential war in Europe".
Its website says it is building "low cost interceptors" to combat everything from flying drones to "ballistic missiles capable of ending the world as we know it".
The firm has enjoyed a rapid rise, signing a contract with the MoD earlier this year to supply the UK and its allies in the Gulf.
Skyhammer missiles are said to have a maximum speed of 700 km/h (435 mph) and a range of 30km (19 miles).
According to the MoD, they could be used to counter weapons such as Iranian "Shahed" drones, which Russia has also used in its war against Ukraine.
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Last month Cambridge Aerospace said that after attracting a further $300m of investment, the business was now worth $3.4bn - and it had plans to expand.
Speaking to the BBC at the time, company founder Prof Steven Barrett said the firm was aiming to build 2,500 missiles a month "in the first part of next year".
"To give you some context, if you take Patriot interceptors, something like only 10,000 in history have ever been built," he added.
"So producing larger numbers of interceptors will make a really significant difference to the defence of the UK and our allies."
Office of the President of UkraineThe firm has three sites in the UK – Cambridge, near Swindon and at the Scottow Business Park in Norfolk.
Plans submitted to NNDC show it wants to build "a new engine test stand, manufacturing facility and research and development lab".
According to the company's agents Lanpro, the site would be used for the "design and manufacture of high-performance, rapidly deployable air defence systems".
Its planning statement said the firm expected to invest £24m in the site, with the number of jobs there potentially increasing from 21 to 60.
The council is due to decide on the plans at a later date.
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