Martlet Missile Order Expanded by UK, Assistance Extended to Ukraine

The United Kingdom Ministry of Defense has ordered a significant number of additional Martlet universal missiles, which will also be supplied to Ukraine.

This is reported on the official website of the Ministry of Defense of the United Kingdom.

The corresponding supply contract was signed with Thales UK, which manufactures Martlet missiles (army designation LMM) in Belfast, Northern Ireland.

The £176 million order includes equipping with these missiles both current and future air defense assets of the British Army, such as the Stormer HVM and man-portable infantry systems, as well as the Royal Navy’s Martlet maritime/air defense missile system, which is used by Wildcat HMA.2 helicopters.

In addition to the British Army, these missiles will be transferred to the Ukrainian Defense Forces as part of the UK MoD’s promise to increase the number of military personnel trained on the LMM (Martlet).

It should be noted that the Martlet missile is versatile, as it is equipped with a semi-active GWS that is guided by a laser beam.

This type of guidance allows the missile 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 is 76 mm in diameter, it allows a large number of missiles to be installed in a single launch container, as demonstrated on the Wildcat HMA.2 anti-submarine helicopters.

In addition, due to an advanced fire control and targeting system, helicopters of this type have confirmed their ability to engage air targets, including drones.

For example, during test firing in July 2023, Wildcat HMA.2 helicopters from the 825th and 815th Naval Air Squadrons destroyed a Banshee air target flying at a speed of over 100 km per hour.

As Militarnyi reported previously, the UK Ministry of Defense will increase the number of Ukrainian military personnel who will be trained on the Martlet man-portable air defense system.

As part of its own training program for the Ukrainian military, the UK also plans to increase the number of transferred Martlet portable anti-aircraft missile systems, which consist of a control and guidance unit and the missiles themselves.