Britain has delivered hundreds of air defence missiles to Ukraine five months ahead of schedule.
This was announced by the Minister for Defence Procurement and Industry, Luke Pollard, during a visit by a trade delegation to Kyiv, according to the UK government website.
The missiles, manufactured in Belfast and known as Lightweight Multirole Missiles (LMM), have already proven effective in defending Ukrainian airspace and were delivered five months earlier than planned under the UK’s gifting programme.
Meanwhile, Belfast-based company Thales is moving to the next stage of cooperation with Ukrainian partners under a £1.6 billion contract. This new phase will allow deeper integration of the LMM missiles into Ukraine’s air defence system, enhancing defensive capabilities.
The UK government also reported that a British trade delegation visited Kyiv this week to strengthen military support for Ukraine.
“Britain is reinforcing its unwavering commitment to helping Ukraine defend itself against Russia’s illegal invasion. This year we will spend £4.5 billion on military support for Ukraine — more than ever before,” emphasised Minister Luke Pollard.”