Thales Belfast awarded £1.16bn to produce missiles for Ukraine
Thales Northern Ireland has been awarded an initial £1.16bn to manufacture over 5,000 lightweight-multirole missiles (LMM) for Ukraine’s armed forces.
The deal will see production of LMMs at Thales’s Belfast factory treble, creating 200 new jobs and supporting hundreds more.
Thales Northern Ireland will deliver the contract in collaboration with a Ukrainian industry partner, which will manufacture launchers and command and control vehicles for the missiles in Ukraine.
The deal follows the prime minister’s announcement on February 26, 2025 that defence spending will increase to 2.5 per cent of GDP by April 2027.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: “My support for Ukraine is unwavering. I am determined to find a way forward that brings an end to Russia’s illegal war and guarantees Ukraine a lasting peace based on sovereignty and security.
“I am also clear that national security is economic security. As well as levelling up Ukraine’s air defence, this loan will make working people here in the UK better off, boosting our economy and supporting jobs in Northern Ireland and beyond.”
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