Belfast firm secures €450m deal to build 1,000 missiles for Ukraine

Thales Receives Major Order to Supply Missiles to Ukraine

A Belfast-based company, Thales, has secured a significant order from the UK government to manufacture 1,000 missiles at a cost of nearly €450 million. This development comes as Ukraine continues to face intense missile and drone attacks from Russia, prompting an urgent need for enhanced air defense capabilities.

In response to this growing threat, the UK government has committed to sending an additional £540 million (€640 million) worth of weapons to Ukraine. A portion of this funding will be used to purchase US-made interceptors, while the remaining amount will be allocated to Thales in Belfast. The company is tasked with supplying 1,000 Lightweight Multirole Missiles (LMMs) to support Ukraine’s struggling air defenses, which have been under constant pressure from nightly Russian attacks.

According to the company's website, the LMM is described as an advanced solution for air defense, offering precision, versatility, and effectiveness against a range of threats in challenging environments. The missile features a precision laser beam riding guidance system, which minimizes collateral damage and makes it suitable for use in air, land, and naval operations. Equipped with a triple effect warhead and proximity fuse, the LMM is capable of addressing various threats, including light armored vehicles, wheeled and tracked vehicles, and aerial platforms.

Thales, a French-owned arms company, operates two facilities in the region. High-precision missiles are designed and produced at a plant in east Belfast, while the final assembly of the missiles takes place at another facility in Crossgar, County Down.

In March last year, it was reported that Thales planned to open a third facility after it was revealed that the company would supply 5,000 LMMs to Ukraine in a deal valued up to £1.6 billion (€2 billion). The global arms manufacturer currently employs 850 direct employees in Belfast, with plans to create an additional 200 jobs over the next two years.

Nigel MacVean, managing director for Thales in Northern Ireland, highlighted the impact of the missiles shipped from Belfast to the front lines in Ukraine during a speech before the Stormont Economy committee. He stated that LMMs are widely recognized as a key factor in keeping Russian helicopters away from Ukraine, while the NLAW is regarded as being responsible for preventing Russian tanks from reaching Kyiv.