Britain has signed a £350 million ($465 million) defense deal with India to deliver air defense missiles and launch platforms to the Indian Army.
The contract covers the supply of the Lightweight Multirole Missile (LMM), built by Thales in Belfast, Northern Ireland — the same production line that supports deliveries to Ukraine. The UK government described the agreement as a milestone in strengthening bilateral defense cooperation, complementing an existing £250 million ($332 million) program on naval electric propulsion technology.
The LMM is a versatile, short-range weapon engineered for air, land, and maritime missions. At 13 kilograms, it offers a range of more than 6 kilometers and travels at speeds above Mach 1.5 (roughly 1,850 kilometers or 1,150 miles per hour). Its laser-guided system enables precision engagement while reducing the risk of unintended damage.
The missile can be launched from shoulder, tripod, vehicle-mounted, or integrated systems such as the RapidRanger and is effective against drones, light armor, small boats, and helicopters. In naval operations, it can be deployed from guns or rotary aircraft to defeat fast, maneuvering air and surface targets.
