On September 6, 2024, another meeting of the contact group in the Ramstein format is set to take place, where discussions will focus on additional military aid packages for Ukraine. Ahead of this meeting, the UK Ministry of Defense has announced its commitment to provide Ukraine with 650 LMM (lightweight multirole missiles) to enhance its air defense capabilities. The package is valued at £162 million, with the initial missile deliveries expected by the end of this year.
This raises an important question: what aerial threats can be effectively neutralized using the British LMM missiles, and which part of Ukraine’s air defense will be bolstered by the deployment? The LMM missiles are versatile due to their operational use in the British Armed Forces. They serve dual roles – either integrated into the Martlet MANPADS or the Stormer HVM short-range air defense system, or deployed as light anti-ship missiles aboard the Royal Navy’s AW159 Wildcat HMA2 helicopters.
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In terms of technical specifications, the LMM missile weighs 13 kilograms at launch, with a 3-kilogram warhead. It has a range of 8 kilometers and reaches speeds of Mach 1.5. Based on these characteristics, Ukrainian forces will be able to use the LMM missiles to target a variety of russian aerial threats, particularly drones. This includes reconnaissance drones near the front lines as well as the Shahed drones deployed in attacks against Ukraine’s critical infrastructure. It is worth noting that, as early as April 2022, the British Martlet MANPADS emerged as a highly effective tool against russian drones.
However, the UK currently does not have a surplus of LMM missiles. It has been reported that it will take up to three years to ramp up production of the Martlet missiles, which have proven effective against russian Orlan-10 drones. Interestingly, the UK’s own military has placed an order for a similar missile package valued at £176 million, although the specific quantity of missiles remains undisclosed.
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