Britain’s New Autonomous Drone TigerShark Signals a Shift in Deep Strike Alternatives to Cruise Missiles.

At the DSEI exhibition in London, MGI Engineering’s defence division unveiled the TigerShark, a single-use autonomous effecter that the company describes as a lower-cost long-range strike option compared to conventional cruise missiles. Designed and manufactured in the United Kingdom, the system is slated to be offered to MGI partners from October 2025, the company said during the presentation.
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MGI describes the TigerShark as a high-speed, long-range effecter intended for deep-strike missions against high-value targets (Picture source: Army Recognition)

MGI describes the TigerShark as a high-speed, long-range effecter intended for deep-strike missions against high-value targets. The specification sheet presented by MGI lists a payload capacity between 200 and 300 kg, a cruise speed of 650 km/h and a maximum speed of 750 km/h. Reported ranges depend on flight profile and load: 550 km for the “maximum-load and maximum-speed” case and 900 km for “maximum-load at cruise speed”. Empty weight is given as 170 kg and maximum take-off weight as 800 kg. These figures reflect a platform designed to carry a substantial payload while remaining transportable and compatible with launches from mobile platforms.

The published dimensions indicate a relatively compact device for a strategic effecter: length 5,484 mm, wingspan 4,297 mm and height 1,025 mm. Propulsion consists of two Argive A1100 gas turbines. Fuel capacity is listed at 260 kg and the system accepts conventional fuels such as Jet A1 and diesel. Launch is by Rocket Assisted Take Off, enabling deployment from prepared positions or vehicle-mounted launchers without the need for a long runway. The combination of small footprint, limited MTOW and RATO launch supports tactical and operational mobility.

Manufacturing notes emphasise composite materials and modern processes: a full-composite monocoque fuselage, wings with composite skin over a single spar, a 3D-printed nose housing the avionics bay, a heat-resistant rear section and composite empennage. This architecture aims to reduce weight, simplify production and speed design iterations. MGI’s stated open-architecture approach is intended to ease integration of new payloads or software upgrades without redesigning the whole airframe.

The onboard electronics rely largely on militarised commercial components. The flight controller cited is the Auterion Skynode-N, supported by a NanoRadar NR24 altimeter, an Auterion optical navigation system and Auterion terminal guidance functions. Communications include a DTC BluSDR90 telemetry radio and Iridium satcom access. MGI highlights the autonomy provided in partnership with Auterion to operate in GPS-denied and communications-constrained environments, using inertial navigation, terrain mapping and onboard edge computing. These choices reflect a concern for resilience against electronic threats.

Operationally, the TigerShark has been designed for salvo launches to saturate and overwhelm air-defence systems, an approach comparable to programmes such as MBDA’s One Way Effector and certain Russian effecters but with substantially larger payloads. Payload modularity allows the mission to be tailored: explosive warheads, electronic warfare packages, decoys and other modules can be fitted or swapped depending on objectives. MGI positions the platform as a lower-cost, more sovereign alternative to conventional cruise missiles, aimed particularly at nations seeking deep-strike capability without the expense and industrial complexity of high-end munitions.

The TigerShark’s unveiling takes place against a strategic backdrop shaped by the spread of A2/AD bubbles, a concept introduced into US strategic debate in the early 2000s and since central to operational planning. Anti-access measures seek to prevent entry of forces into a theatre, while area-denial operations aim to limit their freedom of action once deployed. Confronted with integrated defence networks and advanced electronic means, militaries seek solutions that combine resilience, flexibility and the ability to generate mass while maintaining precision. Recent conflicts suggest that saturation, combined with a mix of low-cost systems and high-end munitions, can be complementary rather than mutually exclusive.

TigerShark is presented as a United Kingdom–designed autonomous effecter capable of carrying 200 to 300 kg over several hundred kilometres, powered by two Argive A1100 turbines, launched by RATO and fitted with Auterion avionics and commercial secure links. Composite construction, a 3D-printed nose and an open architecture are intended to enable rapid iterations and a broad range of payloads. Built for salvo employment, the system aims to offer a lower-cost long-range strike option than conventional cruise missiles while remaining usable in contested environments.