New Delhi: India and the UK have signed a £350 million ($468 million) government-to-government deal for British Lightweight Multirole Missiles (LMMs) for the Indian Army’s tactical units. The LMMs are also being used by Ukrainian armed forces against Russian troops.
As the name suggests, the missile, manufactured by Thales UK, can be fired by an infantry soldier, integrated with an armoured vehicle, and also with helicopter and naval ships.
For the Army, it can take out threats ranging from light armoured, wheeled and tracked vehicles to aerial platforms within a distance of 6 km.
LMM, which is based on laser beam guidance, is available on shoulder launch, tripod and vehicle configuration.
Weighing a mere 13 kg, the missile has a velocity of 1.5 Mach and has been in service with the British military since 2019. It has also been deployed by Ukrainian forces in the ongoing war against Russia.
The missile is also known as the Martlet missile, named after a mythical bird that never roosts. The British Army has integrated the missile with its helicopter units as well as some naval platforms. It is designed for an urban environment and Thales manufactures them at its northern Ireland facility.
“The deal paves the way for a broader complex weapons partnership between the UK and India, currently under negotiation between the two governments,” a statement by the UK government said.
A joint statement issued after the meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his British counterpart Keir Starmer said the deal “will further support India’s air defence capabilities and, in the spirit of Atmanirbhar Bharat, meet the current and future requirements of the Indian Ministry of Defence, and support a long-term collaboration on complex weapons between the two countries”.
The UK and India in February agreed to expand collaboration on next-generation weapons with Thales and Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) signing a contract to deliver Laser Beam Riding MANPADs (LBRM), with an initial supply of High Velocity Missiles (STARStreak) and launchers to be delivered later this year.
Sources said the Martlet is also part of the same category of missiles.
(Edited by Amrtansh Arora)
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