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The UK is creating its first pilot-scale facility for ceramic matrix composites (CMCs) necessary for hypersonic applications, following an investment of £350,000 by the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL) in Cross Manufacturing Ltd. CMCs are designed to endure temperatures above 1,000°C, offering strength and shape retention under extreme conditions.

This initiative aims to reduce reliance on foreign suppliers as the UK develops its hypersonic missile program, which includes a £12 million contract for design work and anticipates a demonstrator by 2030. The facility is supported by various institutions, including the University of Oxford and defense firms QinetiQ and MBDA.