British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has announced a £1.6 billion ($2 billion) deal to fund air-defence missiles for Ukraine, allowing the country to purchase 5,000 lightweight-multirole missiles from Thales. The missiles have a range of over 6 kilometres and can be fired from various platforms.
The deal comes as Ukraine faces increasing attacks, including a recent drone attack by Russia that was described as the largest since the start of the war in 2022. Starmer stated that the missiles will be crucial for protecting critical infrastructure and strengthening Ukraine’s security.
Thales is set to manufacture the missiles, which will be used on land, sea, and air platforms. The funding package includes export finance, allowing Ukraine to purchase the missiles with minimal upfront costs.
The deal marks a significant escalation in UK support for Ukraine’s air defence capabilities, following a series of military aid packages previously announced by the government.
Source: https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/uk-announces-new-2-billion-deal-fund-air-defence-missiles-ukraine-2025-03-02