UK to purchase Martlet missiles and provide part to Ukraine

The UK Defense Ministry’s website states this.

The GBP 176 million (almost USD 227 million) order aims to equip current and future air defense assets of the British Army. This includes Stormer combat vehicles and the Royal Navy's Martlet naval air defense missile system, which is deployed from Wildcat helicopters.

The corresponding supply contract was signed with the British company Thales UK, which manufactures Martlet (LMM) missiles.

The UK Defense Ministry said in a statement that hundreds of LMM missiles will also be transferred to the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

These missiles are designed to counter threats such as drones, helicopters, other aircraft, and small high-speed maritime targets.

For reference: The Martlet missile is a versatile missile, as it is equipped with a semi-active target coordinator that is guided by a laser beam, Militarnyi reports. This type of guidance allows it to hit both air and ground targets, as well as sea targets at ranges of 5 to 9 km. Since the missile weighs 13 kg, is 1.4 meters long and 76 mm in diameter, it allows a large number of missiles to be installed in one launch container.

• The Netherlands and Denmark will supply 14 Leopard 2A4 tanks to Ukraine, which they purchased last year: they have already been repaired and are being tested.