Ukraine to receive 5,000 British anti-aircraft missiles
The British Ministry of Defence announced on 2 March 2025 that Ukraine will receive over 5,000 Martlet (LMM) anti-aircraft missiles. We present what this innovation, which achieved initial operational capability at the end of 2021, can accomplish.
The British, following the unsuccessful talks between Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky, stated they would supply over 5,000 Lightweight Multirole Missile (LMM) anti-aircraft systems, also known as Martlet, to Ukraine. These are intended to defend Ukrainian infrastructure from threats such as Russian cruise missile attacks.
To meet the delivery targets of the £1.6 billion contract, the Thales factory in Belfast will be expanded. The latest contract from September 2024 for 650 units has already led to the delivery of the first batch of missiles before the holidays.
Keir Starmer's cabinet continues the policy of supporting Ukraine, established by its predecessor since the full-scale war in 2022. It is noteworthy that the British were trailblazers in crossing "Putin's red lines" by initiating the first deliveries of modern NATO tanks in the form of Challenger 2 or long-range weapons such as Storm Shadow cruise missiles.
Martlet (LMM) — a newer alternative to the FIM-92 Stinger from the UK
The Lightweight Multirole Missile (LMM) system, commonly known as Martlet, is the creation of Thales Air Defence and is notable for its flexibility. Although it does not appear to be a typical anti-aircraft missile at first glance, its warhead can also target lightly armoured vehicles, such as BMP-2 or patrol boats.
The LMM, while using the same guidance system and launcher as the Starstreak, is equipped with a traditional warhead that can operate in fragmentary and shaped-charge modes. Laser beam riding guidance, apart from being cost-effective, also ensures immunity to self-defence systems like flares but requires the operator to guide the launched missile until impact.
This system weighs approximately 13 kilograms, and Thales states its range at 6.4 kilometres when launched from the ground or 8 kilometres from a helicopter. It is important to note that, unlike the Starstreak, which achieves a speed of Mach 3.5 (1,193 metres per second), Martlet moves at a slower speed of Mach 1.5 (~510 metres per second). These are superior parameters compared to the American FIM-92 Stinger systems with an interception range of up to 4.8 kilometres and an altitude of up to 4 kilometres, and the additional capability to attack ground targets.
