A major £1.6 billion contract has been awarded to Thales Belfast to manufacture 5,000 air defence missiles for Ukraine, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced.
The deal represents the largest-ever contract for the Belfast facility of French-owned Thales, one of Europe's leading arms manufacturers. The order focuses on lightweight multirole missiles (LMMs), which Ukrainian forces currently use to defend against Russian drone and missile attacks.
The contract includes an initial £1.16 billion commitment, with potential for an additional £500 million of work in partnership with a Ukrainian company that will produce launchers and control vehicles.
This new order marks a substantial increase from the previous £162 million contract signed in September 2023, which supplied 650 LMMs to Ukraine with initial deliveries starting in December.
The Belfast facility will create 200 new jobs while supporting 700 existing positions to fulfill the order. Production capacity for LMMs will triple, benefiting supply chain companies across the UK.
Defence Secretary John Healey emphasized that the missiles will help protect Ukraine against aerial attacks and deter Russian aggression after the conflict ends.
The contract, placed through the UK Ministry of Defence's procurement arm on behalf of Ukraine, will be funded by a loan underwritten by UK Export Finance, following an agreement allowing Ukraine to access £3.5 billion in export financing for British industry purchases.
The LMM system features laser guidance technology optimized for urban environments, with a range exceeding 6 kilometers and traveling at Mach 1.5 speed.
East Belfast MP Gavin Robinson welcomed the announcement, highlighting its importance for both international security and the Northern Ireland economy.