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UK Pledges over 5000 Thales LMM Missiles as Vital Shield for Ukraine Against Drones and Russian Missiles.
The British government announced on 3 March 2025, a $1.6 billion contract to supply Ukraine with more than 5,000 air defense missiles, strengthening the country's defensive capabilities against Russian aggression. This contract, the largest ever signed between the UK Ministry of Defence and Thales in Belfast, aims to increase ammunition production and support the national defense industry.
Designed for air-to-surface and surface-to-surface strikes, The LLM is optimized to engage a variety of threats, including armored vehicles, fast attack craft, and drones (Picture source: Thales)
The missiles, including Lightweight Multirole Missiles (LMM), will be manufactured by Thales in Northern Ireland. This strategic investment will create 200 new jobs and preserve approximately 700 existing positions, reinforcing Thales Belfast's role as one of the UK's main arms production centers. The production rate of these missiles will triple, also benefiting a broad network of British suppliers involved in the supply chain.
The LMM is a short-range precision missile developed by Thales for the UK Armed Forces. Designed for air-to-surface and surface-to-surface strikes, it is optimized to engage a variety of threats, including armored vehicles, fast attack craft, and drones. Its laser beam-riding guidance system ensures high precision while minimizing collateral damage, making it a valuable asset in urban and maritime operations. Equipped with a triple-effect warhead (modular charge, fragmentation, and blast), it provides high lethality against conventional and asymmetric threats. With a speed exceeding Mach 1.5 and an operational range of over 6 km, it is effective in intercepting aerial and ground threats at short distances.
The LMM is highly adaptable and can be deployed across various land, air, and naval platforms, including the Royal Navy's AW159 Wildcat helicopters, armored vehicles, and mobile defense systems such as RAPIDRanger. It can also be integrated into naval launchers for the protection of vessels against fast attack craft and maritime drones. Complementing systems like STARStreak, it plays a key role in close-range defense capabilities for British and allied forces, providing a rapid and effective response to emerging threats.
This contract follows a previous order of 650 missiles signed in September 2024, with the first batch delivered before the end of the year. The effectiveness of the LMM in Ukraine’s air defense operations has been demonstrated through its rapid deployment and capability to counter aerial threats, including drones and Russian cruise missiles. The increased production rate will further enhance these capabilities and provide stronger protection for Ukrainian infrastructure and civilian populations.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer emphasized that this agreement not only strengthens Ukraine’s ability to defend itself but also serves as an economic boost for the UK. He reaffirmed the British government's commitment to supporting Ukraine while reinforcing its defense industry, aligning with the pledge to increase military spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027, with a target of 3% in the next parliamentary term. The agreement is part of a broader strategy to enhance national security while fostering innovation and employment within the UK’s industrial sector.
Defense Secretary John Healey reiterated that military aid to Ukraine remains crucial for European stability and security. He stated that this new missile delivery is not only intended to defend Ukraine against aerial attacks but also to deter any further Russian aggression after hostilities cease. He stressed the necessity of maintaining consistent support for Kyiv to ensure lasting peace and prevent further escalations in the conflict.
The contract with Thales in Northern Ireland includes collaboration with a Ukrainian company that will manufacture launchers and command and control vehicles for the missiles locally. This industrial partnership is part of a broader UK-Ukraine cooperation framework, reinforced by a recently signed 100-year bilateral partnership agreement. It will enable Ukraine to access £3.5 billion in UK-guaranteed financing for acquiring military equipment from British companies, strengthening both countries’ defense industries.
The UK Ministry of Defence, through its procurement agency Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S), is overseeing the implementation of this agreement, marking a decisive step in scaling up ammunition production for Ukraine’s defense. This contract also falls within the framework of the Task Force HIRST initiative, which aims to develop long-term industrial partnerships between the UK and Ukraine to restore and modernize Ukraine’s defense industry. The goal is to ensure Ukraine’s technological resilience and independence against future threats while reinforcing the UK’s manufacturing capabilities.
In line with this commitment, the UK government recently announced a new £150 million military aid package for Ukrainian forces on the front lines. This effort is part of the UK’s broader commitment to provide £3 billion annually in military assistance to Ukraine, with a potential increase of £1.5 billion derived from interest on frozen Russian assets. This financial approach is designed to ensure sustained support for Ukraine while maximizing the efficiency of allocated resources.
The contract with Thales Belfast comes at a time of heightened diplomatic tensions and ongoing discussions regarding the funding of Ukraine’s defense. On February 28, 2025, a meeting between US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House ended abruptly, without the signing of an anticipated agreement on mineral resources. During the talks, disagreements emerged over strategy toward Russia, with Trump urging Ukraine to make concessions to hasten an end to the conflict, while Zelensky insisted on the need for reliable security guarantees to prevent future Russian aggression.
This development highlighted the challenges Western allies face in maintaining a unified stance on supporting Ukraine. In response, European leaders, including UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron, have intensified diplomatic efforts to develop a peace plan for Ukraine. They are considering forming a “coalition of volunteers” willing to deploy military resources to secure any future peace agreement.
At the same time, the issue of financing Ukraine’s defense remains central. The European Union and its member states have mobilized significant funds, estimated at €48.7 billion, to support the Ukrainian military. However, Ukraine’s ongoing defense needs, combined with internal budgetary pressures within European nations, have sparked debates over the fair distribution of costs and the long-term sustainability of this support.
In conclusion, the UK-Thales contract for supplying LMM missiles to Ukraine underscores the continued commitment of European nations to strengthening Ukraine’s defense capabilities. However, recent diplomatic tensions and discussions over cost-sharing highlight the complexities of maintaining a unified international coalition in response to the evolving challenges of the conflict.