Thousands Of Martlet Anti-drone Missiles For The Ukrainian Armed Forces Are Already On Their Way From Britain
1- 13.06.2026, 8:06
- 5,114
For most Russian drones, the Martlet spells certain doom.
Ukraine will receive 6,000 British Martlet light multi-purpose missiles to combat Russian drones. These weapons have already proven their effectiveness, destroying more than a hundred enemy targets in combat conditions.
This was reported by RBC-Ukraine citing the blog of military expert and British Army veteran Wes O’Donnell.
The UK is ramping up production of precisely this type of weapon amid the growing threat posed by drones. In April and May 2026, the country’s Ministry of Defense signed two new contracts with Thales. The total value of the deals is 36 million pounds.
For Ukraine, these volumes are significantly larger and amount to thousands of Martlets. London began actively funding this initiative as early as 2025. At that time, approximately 1.7 billion pounds were allocated for a combination of RapidRanger systems and Martlet missiles for Ukraine. Ukraine received the first batches of these weapons as early as 2024, and therefore our troops are well acquainted with the LMM Martlet.
The weapons are manufactured in Belfast. About 700 skilled specialists work there. Then-Defense Minister John Gilley confirmed that the missiles are “battle-tested.” They have been successfully used by the British Air Force over the past few months.
What is known about the LMM Martlet
It is a very compact missile weighing just 13 kilograms, making it easy to transport. Its range is over 6 kilometers.
Its main feature is its guidance system. The Martlet uses a laser beam. The launcher guides the missile directly to the target, which fundamentally distinguishes it from heat-seeking systems.
Advantages of laser guidance:
- does not require a heat signature from the target’s engine;
- effectively destroys inexpensive drones with electric motors;
- Ignores enemy thermal decoys;
- Works even against low-observable aircraft.
For most Russian drones, the Martlet is a death sentence. The missile does not need to see a “hot” jet engine: the operator simply needs to keep the aiming point on the target.
This weapon is versatile and can be launched from various platforms. The missiles are mounted on Wildcat helicopters, Stormer armored vehicles, or man-portable systems.
It is the ideal solution for the “middle zone.” Using expensive Patriot missiles to shoot down "Shaheds" is wasteful, and anti-aircraft systems do not always have sufficient range. Martlet fills this gap.
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