Starstreak manufacturer Thales sees weapons production double due to Ukraine
Production at Thales UK weapons plant has doubled and is set to double again following Russia’s war in Ukraine.
The Northern Ireland-based company operates two sites in the region – with high-precision missiles designed and produced at a plant in east Belfast, and final missile assembly at another plant in Crossgar, Co Down.
It designs and produces missiles including Starstreak, Lightweight Multi-role Missile (LMM) systems as well as the final assembly of the Saab-designed Nlaw.
They have also trained UK and Ukraine soldiers in the south of England.
It is part of the French firm Thales Group’s much wider operation in 68 countries across the globe which includes the manufacture of mobile phone SIM cards, cyber security, aerospace and security as well as defence systems.
While various missile systems have been produced at the Belfast plant for decades, they were last "fired in anger" during the Falklands War in 1982.
Although were deployed as deterrents in conflicts since, including the Gulf War and Afghanistan.
Starstreak was also used to protect the 2012 London Olympic Games and will be used again at the Paris 2024 Olympics this summer as a deterrent, the PA news agency reported.
However, since Russian tanks rolled into Ukraine in February 2022, the production of missiles has ramped up and the conflict has seen the missiles fired by Ukrainian fighters.
Starstreak, LMM and Saab NLAWs already procured from Thales by the UK Ministry of Defence were sent to Ukraine as aid.
Thales is currently replacing that UK military stock.
Missiles are only sold to governments and under a licence secured from the UK for any goods for military use being exported from the UK.
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