The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) has expedited the provision of critical air defence missiles to Ukraine, surpassing the initial delivery schedule by five months.
Hundreds of Martlet Lightweight Multirole Missiles (LMMs), produced in Belfast, were delivered under UK’s gifting programme.
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Produced by Belfast-based Thales, LMM is a surface-to-surface, surface-to-air precision strike missile.
The weapons, each weighing 13kg, can travel at a speed of over Mach 1.5.
They have been deployed in Ukraine since the start of the conflict with Russia in February 2022.
The delivery coincides with UK Defence Readiness and Industry Minister Luke Pollard’s visit to Kyiv as part of a trade delegation. It also comes as Thales entered a new phase of collaboration with Ukrainian partners.
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By GlobalDataThis advancement pertains to a segment of the earlier £1.6bn ($2.1bn) agreement, which will facilitate the enhanced incorporation of these decisive missiles into Ukraine’s air defence infrastructure.
The missile production efforts within the UK are not only creating 200 new jobs but also sustaining an additional 700 positions.
This contributes to economic growth and aligns with the Government’s Plan for Change.
Luke Pollard said: “The UK is stepping up our ironclad commitment to help Ukraine defend itself against Russia’s illegal invasion. This year alone we are spending £4.5bn on military support for Ukraine, more than ever before.
“It was an honour to lead this trade delegation to Kyiv, and to see so many other countries participating in the event. Driving industrial partnerships is essential so that we can learn from their expertise and together build the industrial base we need to defend the UK, deter our adversaries and support Ukraine.”
Previous trade missions between the UK and Ukraine have yielded over 30 joint ventures and partnerships, fostering job creation, economic prosperity, and enhanced security for both countries.
Notably, Ukrspecsystems, Ukraine’s drone manufacturer, plans to invest £200m in establishing two new facilities in the UK.
This move is expected to generate 500 high-skilled jobs and stimulate economic expansion.
The trade delegation visit follows Programme LYRA, a technology sharing initiative that will see joint development of advanced military equipment between UK and Ukrainian industries. This partnership supports British employment while reinforcing national security for both nations.
An industrial partnership has emerged from this agreement, leading to Project OCTOPUS, an air defence interceptor drone development venture. The UK aims to produce thousands of these drones monthly to aid Ukraine’s defence against Russia’s ongoing drone attacks on its cities.
