This system offers Britain a range of options for deep fires, a key aspect of any military engagement in Ukraine—which is undoubtedly what the weapon is being prepared for.
A new British-made ramjet-powered artillery round is making waves. Designed by Tiberius Aerospace, this 155mm extended-long-range precision-guided, liquid-fueled, ramjet-powered artillery munition is capable of reaching Mach 3.5 and altitudes of around 65,000 feet.
If this system can be produced in a reliable and affordable manner—a big ask, given the degraded nature of the Western defense industrial base—then it will prove revolutionary for Western forces.
All About Britain’s “Sceptre” Munition
Tiberius Aerospace has designated this new 155mm extended-long-range artillery munition the “Sceptre” (TRBM 155HG). It was unveiled at the Future Artillery Conference in London three days ago. Tiberius is advertising the system as being NATO-compatible, specifically with NATO’s existing 155mm howitzers.
This is clearly part of the overall British and European push to militarize and to make the region’s armies more self-sufficient and capable. After years of neglecting their indigenous fighting capabilities, preferring instead to outsource their security to the United States and its extended defense umbrella, British and European capabilities withered on the vine. However, now that the Trump administration has expressed extreme skepticism about defending Europe—and has pulled back on commitments to Ukraine—the Europeans have rightfully determined that they need to start pulling their weight. Reinvigorating Europe and England’s defense industrial base is one surefire way they can do that—and it looks like the Spectre TRBM 155HG is the opening bid of Britain’s attempts at such a reinvigoration.
Army Recognition, a defense trade publication, declares that the Spectre’s “debut is significant” because “it offers a disruptive solution for NATO-standard howitzers at a fraction of the cost of existing systems” [emphasis added]. Warfare, in general, is increasingly being waged over-the-horizon. Effective weapons systems, therefore, must fly farther, faster, and be more precise than ever before.
The ramjet aspect is the most unique element of this new munition. A ramjet is an air-breathing engine that compresses incoming air without any moving parts, using the munition’s high speed to maintain combustion and generate continuous thrust throughout its flight. Because of its high speed and high altitude, the Spectre is not as susceptible to GPS jamming that other, slower-moving and lower-flying munitions are.
Britain Is Readying for World War III
This system offers a range of options for the British military in terms of deep fires, a key aspect of any military engagement in Ukraine—which is undoubtedly what the weapon is being prepared for. As the rumor mill has it, the Starmer administration in London desires to deploy an expeditionary force along with the French and several other European NATO members into Ukraine—perhaps as deep into the besieged country as the Dnipro.
Britain has long lagged behind the United States, Russia, and China, in the ongoing revolution in military affairs that prioritizes long-range precision warfare and automated systems. The Sceptre combines all these elements—meaning London is conditioning itself for a much larger role in the global conflict currently raging.
About the Author: Brandon J. Weichert
Brandon J. Weichert, a Senior National Security Editor at The National Interest as well as a contributor at Popular Mechanics, who consults regularly with various government institutions and private organizations on geopolitical issues. Weichert’s writings have appeared in multiple publications, including the Washington Times, National Review, The American Spectator, MSN, the Asia Times, and countless others. His books include Winning Space: How America Remains a Superpower, Biohacked: China’s Race to Control Life, and The Shadow War: Iran’s Quest for Supremacy. His newest book, A Disaster of Our Own Making: How the West Lost Ukraine is available for purchase wherever books are sold. He can be followed via Twitter @WeTheBrandon.
Image courtesy of Tiberius Aerospace.
