The missiles, including lightweight multirole missiles (LMM), will be manufactured by Thales in Belfast. The contract will create 200 new jobs and sustain around 700 existing positions at the company’s facility in Northern Ireland.
This agreement is the largest ever secured by Thales in Belfast and follows a previous contract for 650 missiles signed in September 2024. The first batch from the earlier deal was delivered before the end of the year.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer stated that the agreement would provide critical support to Ukraine while also benefiting the UK economy. He reiterated the UK’s commitment to assisting Ukraine and ensuring European security.
Defence Secretary John Healey described the deal as essential for Ukraine’s defence, emphasising the importance of providing continued military aid. He stated that the UK remains committed to supporting Ukraine’s right to self-defence.
The deal aligns with the UK government’s pledge to increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027, with plans to raise it further to 3% in the next parliament. This investment is part of a broader strategy to enhance national security and support the domestic defence industry.
