Belfast Arms Factory Secures £1.6bn Deal to Supply Missiles to Ukraine

Thales, a French-owned arms manufacturer based in Belfast, is set to deliver 5,000 air defense missiles to Ukraine in a record-breaking £1.6bn contract, enhancing the nation's defense capabilities amid ongoing conflict.

The Thales missile factory in Belfast has been awarded a monumental contract to supply 5,000 lightweight multirole missiles (LMMs) to Ukraine, as confirmed by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer. This historic deal, valued at up to £1.6bn, will necessitate the recruitment of 200 new employees to facilitate increased production.

The LMMs are already being utilized by Ukrainian forces, and this larger order comes after an initial contract worth £162m that provided 650 missiles last year, with the first batch expected to be delivered in December. The latest order aims to bolster Ukraine’s defense against ongoing drone and missile threats and deter any further hostile actions from Russia.

The initial value of the new contract stands at £1.16bn, with the potential for an additional £500m worth of work in collaboration with a Ukrainian industry partner, who will assist in the production of launchers and command and control systems domestically.

Defence Secretary John Healey stressed the strategic importance of the agreement, highlighting it as Thales Belfast’s largest contract to date. This undertaking is part of a broader plan laid out by the UK government to support Ukraine, with funding provided through a government-backed loan that enables Ukraine to access £3.5bn to engage with UK industry for its military needs.

The contract was placed through the Ministry of Defence’s procurement division, Defence Equipment & Support, on behalf of the Ukrainian government, illustrating the commitment of the UK to support its ally during these challenging times.