UK Orders Thales Martlet Lightweight Multirole Missiles for British Armed Forces.

The British Ministry of Defence (MoD) announced on July 24, 2024, a major procurement of Lightweight Multirole Missiles (LMM), also named Martlet, from Thales UK, valued at £176 million. This acquisition aims to bolster the UK Armed Forces' short-range air defense capabilities, ensuring versatile and precise defensive solutions against a variety of threats.
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British 815NAS's wildcat helicopter conducting its first martlet firing in the Bay of Bangal. HMS Defender's’s Wildcat Helicopter fired the first operational Martlet missile in the Bay of Bengal as part of the Carrier Strike Group 21 Deployment. (Picture source: UK MoD)

The LMM (Lightweight Multirole Missile) or Martlet missile, also known as the Lightweight Multirole Missile (LMM), is a versatile precision-guided weapon developed by Thales UK. It weighs approximately 13 kilograms (29 lbs) and measures 1.3 meters (4 ft 3 in) in length with a diameter of 76 millimeters (3.0 in). The missile is guided using a Semi-Automatic Command to Line Of Sight (SACLOS) system, with additional seeker options proposed by Thales, including semi-active laser, terminal infrared, and GPS/INS systems.

Martlet can be deployed from a variety of platforms. It has been integrated onto the Royal Navy's AgustaWestland AW159 Wildcat helicopters, which can carry up to 20 missiles across two weapon wings and four weapon stations. Alternatively, a mixed load of 10 Martlets and 2 Sea Venoms can be carried, or one weapon wing can be removed to accommodate a mounted gun on one side.

The British Army has also integrated the LMM into their current armoured (Stormer) and light role Starstreak ground-based air defence batteries of the 12 Regiment Royal Artillery and 106th (Yeomanry) Regiment Royal Artillery to supplement the Starstreak system.

The missile uses a two-stage solid propellant and has an operational range of up to 8 kilometers (5 miles), with a maximum speed exceeding Mach 1.5 (510 m/s; 1,670 ft/s). The guidance system options for Martlet include SAL (semi-active laser) and LBR (laser beam riding) for mode A, IR (infrared) terminal homing for mode B, IIR (imaging infrared) terminal homing for mode C, and INS (inertial navigation system) and GPS (global positioning system) for mode D.

In addition to the AW159 Wildcat, Martlet can be launched from various platforms, including the Schiebel Camcopter S-100, BAE Fury, Thales Watchkeeper WK450, and Jackal Drone, making it a highly adaptable missile for multiple operational scenarios.

Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S), the MoD's procurement arm, facilitated the contract with Thales UK. The deal not only strengthens national security but also supports economic growth in the region. The production of these missiles at Thales' Belfast site will sustain 135 jobs and benefit the local supply chain, including small and medium enterprises.

In addition to bolstering domestic defence, the UK has also demonstrated international solidarity by gifting hundreds of LMMs to Ukraine. These missiles have been instrumental in Ukraine's efforts to resist the illegal Russian invasion that began in February 2022.

The LMM system achieved its initial operational capability during the Royal Navy’s Carrier Strike Group deployment in the Bay of Bengal in 2021, where it was first fired from a Wildcat helicopter. Since then, the Martlet missile system has been deployed in various operations, including Operation Prosperity Guardian, aimed at protecting commercial vessels from Houthi rebel attacks in the Red Sea.

British Defence Minister Ben Wallace commented on the procurement, stating, "This significant investment underscores our commitment to ensuring the UK Armed Forces are equipped with the latest technology to protect our nation and support our allies. The Lightweight Multirole Missiles from Thales UK will provide a critical enhancement to our defensive capabilities."