Image: UK MoD © Crown copyright 2023
British defence manufacturer Thales UK has secured £36 million in new contracts with the Ministry of Defence (MoD) to supply hundreds of Lightweight Multirole Missiles (LMMs) to UK Armed Forces, boosting air defence stockpiles in the Middle East.
As per a recent government announcement, the contracts were placed by the National Armaments Director Group in May, following a separate LMM order placed in April. Deliveries begin in the coming months and continue through 2026.
The missiles have a proven combat record. RAF Regiment gunners operating Rapid Sentry air defence systems have used LMMs to shoot down more than 100 drones over the Middle East. The Royal Navy also deploys the weapon from Wildcat helicopters, defending British personnel, bases, and allies operating from Cyprus.
The contracts sustain around 700 skilled jobs at Thales’s Belfast facility, where the missiles are designed and manufactured.
Defence Secretary John Healey MP commented: “Our UK defence industry is the backbone of our Armed Forces. These interceptor missiles are battle-proven, successfully used in action by our RAF sharpshooters over recent months.”
The procurement forms part of a broader MoD effort to strengthen munitions supply chains and sustain coalition operations. Britain has expanded its regional presence this year, with more than 1,000 personnel deployed across the Middle East, including fast jet squadrons and specialist counter-drone units.
As drone threats grow across active theatres, the LMM programme reflects a wider strategic priority: investing in proven interceptor systems that can be manufactured domestically and scaled to operational demand.
Read more on the UK MoD website
