Thales Bets on Export Demand to Sustain Belfast Missile Output

Thales is pursuing international orders for its lightweight modular missile (LMM), a short-range air-defence weapon, arguing that export sales are essential to keeping production lines running at its Belfast facility in Northern Ireland long term.

Speaking at the Thales Tech Summit in London on 14 September, group chief executive Patrice Caine said the missile — used by British forces, supplied to Ukraine, and employed in the Middle East against drones — has “numerous” prospects across regions including the Middle East and Southeast Asia. With a presence in 65 countries, the group’s international reach is a key channel for promoting the weapon abroad, he added.

Production of the LMM in Belfast has quadrupled since 2022, supported by £100 million ($134 million) of company investment, funding that also sustains research and development work by the site’s engineering team. The facility supports 700 jobs.

UK orders and platform integration

The LMM, also marketed as the Martlet when fitted to helicopters or potentially uncrewed aerial systems, weighs 13kg (28lb) at launch, accelerates to Mach 1.5, and engages targets at 3–5nm (6–9km) depending on launch method. The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) placed a £176 million order in July 2024, with deliveries scheduled from 2027, after allocating £69 million earlier that year for supply chain preparations. A further order announced in March 2026 is intended to supply British forces and support partners in the Middle East region.

The Royal Navy has also deployed Leonardo Helicopters Wildcat helicopters armed with the weapon to Cyprus this year to bolster counter-drone defences at the Akrotiri base, with each aircraft carrying up to 10 rounds.

New UK technology strategy

Alongside the export push, Thales UK used the summit to unveil a technology strategy aimed at deepening engagement with the MoD and its National Armaments Director Group. Chief technology officer Mike Sewart described the portfolio as organised around a “Sense, Decide & Effect” chain, spanning sensing, processing and data fusion, navigation systems, advanced weapons and novel effects, supported by artificial intelligence. UK chief executive Phil Siveter said the focus is on enhancing current land, sea and air capabilities while investing in research and development for future needs, including early work supporting the Royal Navy’s “hybrid navy” concept.

Peers in the defence technology space — including L3Harris Technologies (LHX), Leonardo DRS (DRS) and National Presto Industries (NPK) — have likewise been positioning around demand for air-defence and precision munitions capacity.

What to watch

• Progress on LMM export campaigns in the Middle East and Southeast Asia, and any new customer announcements.
• Execution of the UK’s £176 million order, with deliveries due to begin in 2027.
• Details from Thales UK’s technology strategy and its alignment with MoD modernisation programmes.

Source: original release