Armed Forces to be supplied with more missiles to counter Iranian drone threat

More Lightweight Multirole Missiles are being bought to supply British forces and support the UK's partners in the Middle East.

While the quantity of missiles has not been disclosed, the MOD said the package would include training in the UK where needed.

The LMM, which is manufactured by Thales in Belfast, has already proven highly capable for air defence in the region as Iran and its allies continue to launch missile and drone attacks, the most high-profile of which was the attack on RAF Akrotiri.

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Allies unite to counter aerial attacks

News of the deal emerged as Defence Readiness and Industry Minister Luke Pollard and National Armaments Director Rupert Pearce held talks with representatives from 13 UK-based defence companies, Gulf ambassadors and defence attachés.

The regional partner nations include Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, the UAE, Iraq and Jordan.

The discussion focused on potential new defensive equipment and technology that companies could supply quickly to counter the Iranian strikes.

The LMM

The Lightweight Multirole Missile is designed to be fired from helicopters, fixed or rotary-wing uncrewed aerial vehicles, wheeled or tracked vehicles, man-portable launchers or naval vessels.

While its official name is just the LMM, the missile is known as the Martlet in Royal Navy service.

Royal Navy Wildcat HMA2 helicopters are currently deployed to Cyprus, where they and their Martlet missiles are helping to form part of a defensive shield around the island, protecting against further attacks.

The missile weighs around 13kg, uses a laser beam-riding guidance system, has an operational range in excess of 6km and can travel at roughly 1,850 km/h.

Thales says the missile is immune to countermeasures and is cost-effective, which is especially important when countering relatively low-cost enemy UAVs.

A Royal Navy pilot recently made the first British air-to-air kill of a drone in an F-35B, but the missiles this jet uses are disproportionately expensive compared with the target.

A threat to Britain

Defence Secretary John Healey said of the additional measures: "Iran's indiscriminate attacks are a threat to Britain, our allies and our partners in the region.

"That's why our dedicated Armed Forces are taking defensive action in the Middle East.

"A nation's armed forces are only as strong as the industry that supports them. I'm proud of how our military and industry is stepping up together – just as we are for Ukraine – to offer rapid support to our Gulf partners."