On September 6, the UK Ministry of Defence announced its plans to supply the Armed Forces of Ukraine with 650 new LMM multifunction anti-aircraft missiles, aiming to bolster Ukraine’s air defense capabilities. This transfer, estimated at a cost of £162 million, will be carried out through the British branch of Thales, with delivery expected by the end of 2024.
This announcement follows a bilateral meeting in London between Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov and his British counterpart, John Healey, where the UK reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Ukraine’s war effort. The UK plans to increase the pace and quantity of military aid shipments. Alongside the LMM missiles, the new Labour government also confirmed the dispatch of an additional £300 million worth of artillery munitions, also expected to arrive by year-end, along with a new contribution to the International Humanitarian Aid Fund (IFU) exceeding £1 billion, in collaboration with eight other countries.
Defence Minister Healey stated, “This new commitment will give a significant boost to Ukraine’s air defenses and demonstrates our new government’s resolve to step up support for Ukraine… In recent days, we’ve seen the tragic cost of Russia’s indiscriminate attacks on Poltava and Lviv. These UK-made missiles will help Ukraine defend its people, infrastructure, and territory from Putin’s brutal assaults. Together with our international partners, we will show our unity for Ukraine and discuss the best ways to improve support, as the security of the UK and Europe begins in Ukraine.”
A spokesperson from Thales, quoted in the official UK Defence Ministry statement, said, “As a strategic partner of the UK Government, Thales is proud to work with the Ministry of Defence to support the defense of democracy in Ukraine by supplying our Light Multirole Missile, produced at our Belfast headquarters… Since the start of the conflict in Ukraine, the UK Ministry of Defence and Thales have worked closely to support Ukraine’s effort by delivering key air defense systems on time. We are pleased that this contract is the first signed under the Hirst Task Force, which aims to forge a deeper defense industrial partnership between the UK and Ukraine.”
Regarding the features of the LMM missiles, they are designed for use in air defense networks and against ground targets. They can also be integrated into aerial platforms for ground-attack operations. The missiles are guided by an LBR laser system, reducing the margin of error to just 0.25 meters over a distance of 6 kilometers. The LMM carries a 3-kilogram HE warhead, capable of being delivered at speeds of up to Mach 1.5.
Images are used for illustrative purposes.
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