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The United Kingdom will deliver 650 Lightweight Multirole Missile (LMM) systems to Ukraine, strengthening the country’s air defense capabilities as it continues to face missile and drone attacks from Russia.
UK Defence Secretary John Healey announced the new air defense package at the Ukraine Defence Contact Group (UDCG) meeting at Ramstein Air Base, Germany. This meeting was his first as Defence Secretary and reflects the UK government’s firm commitment to supporting Ukraine.
“This new commitment will give an important boost to Ukraine’s air defences and demonstrates our new government’s commitment to stepping up support for Ukraine,” Healey said during the event. The missiles, manufactured by Thales at their Belfast facility, are versatile and can be launched from various platforms on land, sea, or air. Travelling at Mach 1.5 with a range of over six kilometers, the LMM is effective against a range of threats, including drones and armored vehicles.
During his bilateral meeting in London earlier this week with Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, Healey confirmed that £300 million worth of artillery ammunition, also funded through the IFU, would begin arriving in Ukraine by the end of 2024.
In his remarks at the UCDG, Healey addressed the tragic consequences of Russia’s ongoing strikes, referencing recent attacks in Poltava and Lviv. “These new UK-made missiles will support Ukraine to defend its people, infrastructure, and territory from Putin’s brutal attacks. With our international partners today, we will show that we are united for Ukraine.”
The contract for the LMM missile systems marks the first signed under Task Force Hirst, a Ministry of Defence initiative aimed at expanding defense industrial partnerships between the UK and Ukraine. This initiative is expected to increase production rates and sustain the supply of essential equipment to Ukraine.
Thales, the UK-based defense manufacturer, praised the collaboration with the Ministry of Defence, stating: “As a strategic partner of UK Government, Thales is proud to be working with MoD to support defending democracy in Ukraine through the provision of our Lightweight Multirole Missile.”
The IFU, originally launched by the UK and Denmark in 2022, provides a platform for pooling resources to purchase military equipment for Ukraine. To date, the UK has contributed £500 million to the fund, with additional support from eight countries globally.
