UK commits $2 billion to Ukraine for missiles as Europe speaks up
The LMM has a range of applications including ground-based air defence. (Photo: Thales Defence)
The contract builds on a previous contract with Thales which was signed in September 2024 for 650 missiles. Deliveries of these began in late 2024 and the new contract ensures continued supply.
The UK will provide Ukraine with 5,000 Martlet Lightweight Multirole Missiles (LMMs) under a £1.6 billion (US$2 billion) contract announced by UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer on 2 March. It will occur under a loan from the UK Government.
LMMs have a range of purposes including air launched but for operation with Ukrainian forces will be mostly for air defence, a substantial capability gap for the force.
The deal is part of a commitment from European leaders which came out of a heads-of-government meeting on the same day and work will occur at the Thales factory in
Already have an account? Log in
Want to keep reading this article?
More from Land Warfare
-
![Companies and militaries look to artificial intelligence to improve support of equipment]()
Companies and militaries look to artificial intelligence to improve support of equipment
Companies are turning to rapidly advancing technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and machine-learning (ML) to to reduce maintenance times and costs and increase operational hours and tempo.
-
![British Army fires Javelin from Boxer as Australia set for lightweight launchers]()
British Army fires Javelin from Boxer as Australia set for lightweight launchers
Australia has received approval to buy Javelin Lightweight Command Launch Units (LwCLU) on the same day as the British Army announced the first firing from a Boxer armoured vehicle, a sign of the continuing interest in the weapon. Billons-of-dollars of Javelin missiles and systems have been ordered in the past two years.
-
![Lockheed picks Australian site for GMLRS support and possible missile manufacture]()
Lockheed picks Australian site for GMLRS support and possible missile manufacture
A final decision on the siting of an Australian Weapons Manufacturing Complex (AMWC), which will produce all-up GMLRS (Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System) rounds, will be made by the Australian Department of Defence (DoD).
-
![New version of Altay tank to be delivered “soon” with Turkish engine for later iterations]()
New version of Altay tank to be delivered “soon” with Turkish engine for later iterations
The first of the Altay T1 Main Battle Tanks (MBTs) will have a South Korean power pack while later Altay T2s will be fitted with the locally made BMC BATU engine.
-
![Lockheed Martin wins deals for missiles and systems worth $5 billion]()
Lockheed Martin wins deals for missiles and systems worth $5 billion
There continues to be an insatiable desire for air-defence and air-launched missiles and systems in the US and worldwide. Lockheed Martin’s latest deals reinforce the demand and highlight the supply chain challenge for manufacturing solid rocket motors.
