UK to transfer 650 Martlet missiles to Ukraine

On September 6, 2024, the United Kingdom announced a new £162 million air defense package for Ukraine, including the supply of 650 Lightweight Multirole Missiles (LMM). This announcement was made by Defence Secretary John Healey MP during the Ukraine Defence Contact Group (UDCG) meeting at the US Air Force Base in Ramstein, marking his first participation in this capacity.At the 24th meeting of the group, Healey reiterated the UK's commitment to Ukraine and called on international partners to continue providing the necessary equipment for Ukraine's defense efforts.This decision follows a bilateral meeting in London between Healey and Ukrainian Defence Minister Rustem Umerov, where the two discussed the UK's plans to increase support for Ukraine over the coming months.During the meeting, the Defence Secretary confirmed plans for the delivery of £300 million worth of artillery ammunition to support Ukraine's ongoing military operations by the end of this year. In line with the new government’s aim to expedite the delivery of aid, the first batch of the LMM missiles is also expected to be shipped to Ukraine by the end of the year.The announced package is part of broader UK efforts to enhance defense production both within the UK and across Europe. The £162 million contract is expected to support future supply chain requirements, with the missiles being produced by Thales at their factory in Belfast.These systems are designed to be versatile and can be deployed from various platforms on land, sea, and air. The funding for this initiative is mainly sourced from the UK's annual £3 billion financial package for Ukraine, supplemented by contributions from Norway through the International Fund for Ukraine (IFU). This move is consistent with the Prime Minister and the Defence Secretary's pledge to provide continued support to Ukraine.