UK, Thales to Manufacture 5,000 Lightweight Multirole Missiles for Ukraine
The UK Ministry of Defence has awarded Thales a contract to produce over 5,000 lightweight multirole missiles (LMMs) for Ukraine.
The 1.6-billion-pound ($2 billion) deal is part of London’s ongoing support for the Eastern European country in its defense against Russia’s aggression since 2022.
Each LMM will have a weight of 13 kilograms (27 pounds), a range of more than 6 kilometers (4 miles), and a speed of over Mach 1.5 (1,852 kilometers/1,150 miles per hour).
The resulting warheads will be added to a September 2024 contract for approximately 650 air defense missiles to Ukraine, which were delivered by the end of the year.
Work for the contract will take place at Thales’ facility in Belfast, Northern Ireland.
“Three years since Putin launched his full-scale invasion, we are now at a critical moment for the future of Ukraine and the security of us all in Europe,” UK Defence Secretary John Healey stated.
“We all want a secure and lasting peace. As today’s meeting has shown, the UK will continue to lead international efforts to support Ukraine in securing a ceasefire and durable peace. And we will not jeopardise the peace by forgetting about the war.”
“This new support will help protect Ukraine against drone and missile attacks but it will also help deter further Russian aggression following any end to the fighting.”
Supporting Local Industry
London noted that its latest military aid for the Ukrainian Armed Forces will create 200 new opportunities in its local industrial base and support 700 existing roles across Belfast.
“My support for Ukraine is unwavering,” UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer commented. “I am determined to find a way forward that brings an end to Russia’s illegal war and guarantees Ukraine a lasting peace based on sovereignty and security.”
“By doubling down on our support, working closely with key partners, and ensuring Ukraine has a strong voice at the table, I believe we can achieve a strong, lasting deal that delivers a permanent peace in Ukraine.”
Strengthening British-Ukrainian Relations
The donation to Ukraine will contribute to the British government’s commitment to increase defense spending to 2.5 percent of gross domestic product by 2027.
It will also serve as one of the projects to be organized under a partnership between the UK and Ukraine to jointly boost their industrial relations.
This initiative, called “Task Force Hirst,” allows Kyiv to draw 3.5 billion pounds ($4.4 billion) in funding for “complex weapons and land systems support.”
“The UK’s Defence Industry has supported Ukraine from the start of the war and this important contract underlines industry’s ability to scale up production at pace to deliver the world-class defence equipment Ukraine requires,” UK National Armaments Director Andy Start said.
“This contract is a critical next step in the work of Task Force HIRST in developing lasting partnerships between the UK and Ukraine’s defence industries. The substantial increase in LMM production capacity will benefit both Ukraine’s fight tonight, as well as the longer-term security of the UK.”
