Developed with a consortium of British defence partners, Red Kite is being positioned as an affordable and highly deployable effector for the Royal Air Force. Raytheon UK said advanced digital modelling helped move the weapon rapidly from concept to prototype.
“Red Kite was designed with affordability and adaptability in mind, and marks a significant step forward for UK defence,” said James Gray, managing director and chief executive of Raytheon UK. “Working closely with our partners over the past five years, we’ve combined innovative design, digital engineering and proven technologies to develop a sovereign capability for the RAF faster and more efficiently than ever.”
The weapon uses the existing Stormbreaker airframe and is designed for integration across a wide range of air platforms. Raytheon UK said the approach builds on its precision weapons experience, including Paveway IV, while adding a cost-effective, high-volume option for RAF operations.
The programme places Red Kite within a wider UK push to improve availability, resilience and domestic control over defence production. For Raytheon UK, it also adds a locally engineered weapon to a portfolio already linked to major RAF precision-strike capabilities.
“Red Kite is about getting capability to the frontline faster – reducing cost, increasing availability and meeting our customers’ needs when it matters most,” added Gray. “It represents a clear step toward a more resilient, sovereign UK defence industrial base.”
Raytheon UK said Red Kite will be delivered through a nationwide supply chain spanning England, Scotland and Wales. The programme will bring together specialist design, engineering and manufacturing work from across the country.
The company said systems electronics and software activity will be based in Harlow, while control actuation systems work will take place in Glenrothes. It estimates that about 140 highly skilled jobs will directly support the programme.
The launch gives RTX’s UK business a new sovereign precision weapon offering at a time when air forces are placing greater emphasis on stockpile depth and production capacity. Raytheon UK framed Red Kite as a way to reduce cost, increase availability and support a more resilient British defence industrial base.
