UK rushes forward delivery of hundreds of LMM missiles for Ukraine's air defense
- Open Media Ukraine
- Oct 11
- 2 min read
The United Kingdom has delivered hundreds of Light Multi-Mission (LMM) missiles, also known as Martlet, to Ukraine ahead of schedule, the British government announced in a press release.
The shipment, initially planned for five months from now, arrived early as part of the UK's ongoing military aid program to bolster Ukraine's air defenses. Rubryka informs.
According to the British defense ministry, the missiles were produced at a facility in Belfast, Northern Ireland, and are part of Britain's broader assistance package for Ukraine. Since Russia's full-scale invasion, LMM missiles have been used to destroy drones, helicopters, and light armored vehicles.
The British-made LMM is a high-precision missile about 1.3 meters long, weighing roughly 13 kilograms, and with a range of up to 8 kilometers. It features both laser and infrared guidance systems, and a 3-kilogram fragmentation warhead with a proximity fuze, making it effective against both aerial and ground targets.
The missiles can be launched from various platforms, including ground-based systems such as the man-portable air-defense systems (MANPADS), Stormer HVM, and RapidRanger, as well as from helicopters and naval vessels. This versatility makes the LMM one of the key components of Ukraine's air defense.
Earlier reports indicated that Ukraine plans to purchase British RapidRanger systems and LMM missiles worth nearly $2.3 billion, financed through UK loans. In July, the United Kingdom also announced a record-breaking drone assistance package worth £350 million, allowing Ukraine to receive up to 100,000 drones by the end of this year.
The UK and Ukraine have also launched their first joint venture to produce tactical drones under the Raybird brand in Britain. The project, a partnership between Ukrainian drone manufacturer Skyeton and UK defense firm Prevail Partners, aims to guarantee consistent supplies of ready-to-use drones for the Ukrainian armed forces and adapt the Raybird platform to NATO standards for British and allied militaries.
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