UK has sent 12,000 anti-tank missiles to Ukraine

The United Kingdom has delivered more than 12,000 anti-tank weapons to Ukraine as part of military aid since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion.

The UK Defense Journal reported on this.

This information was disclosed by Luke Pollard, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence, in answer to a query from James Cartlidge, Conservative MP for South Suffolk.

Cartlidge asked the Secretary of State for Defence about the number of anti-tank missiles procured for Ukraine since the beginning of the full-scale war.

Pollard responded on 25th July 2024, stating, “The Ministry of Defence has supplied over 12,000 anti-tank weapons to Ukraine since the outbreak of that country’s conflict with Russia.”

However, the UK Ministry of Defense did not disclose details of what exactly is meant by the term “anti-tank weapons.” Pollard also emphasized Britain’s desire to cooperate with international allies to support Ukraine.

“We will continue to work with international Allies and partners to cohere and coordinate our support to Ukraine. …as a demonstration of our collective enduring commitment to build a Ukrainian force capable of deterring Russian aggression for the long term,” he added.

In the UK, not only NLAW and Javelin ATGMs are considered anti-tank weapons, but also Brimstone missiles. Ukraine has received all these types of weapons from various UK governments since 2022.

At the beginning of July, it became known that as part of a new military aid package, the United Kingdom would provide Ukraine with a batch of Brimstone guided missiles.

Brimstone missiles have been used by the Ukrainian Defense Forces since 2022, when the UK delivered the first batches of these missiles in the Brimstone 1 version. Ukraine received newer Brimstone 2 missiles. In total, it regards hundreds of missiles of both types.

Since these missiles are usually used against ground targets from aircraft, and Ukraine does not have the appropriate carriers, Brimstone is used from mobile ground launchers, which have a special frame on which an aircraft launcher for three missiles is mounted.

In Ukraine, the NLAW lightweight anti-tank system has also shown its effectiveness in the fight against Russian armored vehicles at close range.