UK to deliver 1,000 Martlet missiles to Ukraine in £500M air defence package.

The United Kingdom announced a new £500 million Ukraine assistance package on February 12, 2026, including 1,000 Martlet Lightweight Multirole Missiles, £150 million for NATO’s PURL mechanism, 1,200 additional air defence missiles, and 200,000 artillery rounds.

The United Kingdom announced on February 12, 2026, a new £500 million air defence package for Ukraine, including 1,000 additional Martlet Lightweight Multirole Missiles. The package also allocates £150 million to NATO’s Prioritised Ukraine Requirements List mechanism and includes further missile and artillery deliveries. The announcement was made during the 33rd Ukraine Defence Contact Group meeting at NATO headquarters in Brussels.
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The Lightweight Multirole Missile (LMM), also known as Martlet, was developed to complement the heavier Sea Venom missile on the United Kingdom’s AgustaWestland AW159 Wildcat helicopter fleet. (Picture source: UK MoD)

This urgent air defence package for Ukraine, valued at more than £500 million, combines the delivery of 1,000 additional Martlet missiles, NATO funding, industrial cooperation measures, and follow-on ammunition transfers. The announcement was made as the Defence Secretary co-chaired the 33rd Ukraine Defence Contact Group meeting at NATO headquarters in Brussels. The package includes these 1,000 additional Lightweight Multirole Missiles manufactured in Belfast, a £150 million contribution to NATO’s Prioritised Ukraine Requirements List mechanism, and additional missile and artillery deliveries planned for the coming months. The measures are linked to continued Russian drone and missile attacks targeting Ukrainian energy infrastructure and urban areas. The package integrates direct UK production with multinational procurement coordination and industrial support initiatives. The quantities and funding allocations were presented as part of a structured reinforcement effort rather than a single isolated transfer.

The Lightweight Multirole Missile (LMM), also known in UK service as Martlet, was developed to meet the United Kingdom’s Future Air-to-Surface Guided Weapon Light requirement and complements the heavier Sea Venom missile carried by the AgustaWestland AW159 Wildcat helicopter. A Wildcat can carry up to 20 Martlet missiles across two weapon wings, or a mixed load combining Martlet and Sea Venom. The British Army has integrated the missile into Stormer and Starstreak ground-based air defence batteries within 12 Regiment Royal Artillery and 106th Regiment Royal Artillery. Naval integration has included standalone launchers and hybrid gun-missile configurations mounted alongside 20 mm and 30 mm gun systems. Trials have demonstrated firings from ships and motion platforms simulating sea states 2 and 4 against manoeuvring targets at ranges up to 6 km. Initial operating capability was achieved in 2021, and full operating capability was declared in October 2025.

The Lightweight Multirole Missile has a mass of 13 kg, a length of 1.3 m, and a diameter of 76 mm. It uses a two-stage solid propellant motor and can exceed Mach 1.5, with an operational range of up to 8 km. The missile carries a 3 kg high-explosive blast-fragmentation and shaped-charge warhead with both proximity and impact detonation mechanisms. Its primary guidance method is laser beam riding, with additional configurations including semi-active laser, infrared terminal homing, imaging infrared, and inertial navigation with GPS. The missile is designed for engagement of unmanned aerial systems, helicopters, fast inshore attack craft, lightly armoured vehicles, and fixed targets. It is manufactured by Thales Air Defence in Belfast, supporting production capacity within Northern Ireland.

Operationally, the Martlet has been deployed by the UK's Royal Navy on Wildcat helicopters during Carrier Strike Group operations and has been fired against drone and surface targets in live trials. The missile has also been tested in surface-to-air roles against Banshee target drones and small unmanned systems. In Ukraine, Martlet has been used in ground-based air defence configurations, including shoulder-launched variants and integration onto Alvis Stormer vehicles. In September 2024, the UK pledged 650 newly manufactured Martlet missiles at a cost of £162 million, followed in March 2025 by a £1.6 billion order for 5,000 additional missiles. In October 2025, several hundred missiles were delivered five months ahead of schedule, and in February 2026, the UK confirmed the additional 1,000 missile commitment. Ukrainian units have reported engagements against drones and rotary-wing aircraft, including a Ka-52 helicopter in August 2024.

The 1,000 Lightweight Multirole Missiles, also known in UK service as Martlet, form part of a £390 million deal that expands earlier UK-Ukraine industrial cooperation. The missiles are intended for short-range air defence missions to protect infrastructure, populated areas, and operational assets against drones and cruise missiles. The UK stated that the deal builds on collaboration to transfer production and support arrangements for Rapid Ranger launchers and associated command-and-control vehicles to Ukraine. This includes establishing support capacity closer to Ukrainian operating units to shorten maintenance cycles and improve system availability. The February 12 package does not provide a delivery timeline for the 1,000 missiles but positions them within an urgent reinforcement framework to counter Russia's escalating aerial attack patterns.

The UK also confirmed that, for the first time, it will allocate £150 million to NATO’s Prioritised Ukraine Requirements List (PURL) initiative, which coordinates the purchase of air defence equipment from the United States for rapid delivery to Ukraine. This contribution is intended to accelerate interceptor procurement through a multinational funding channel, supplementing UK-manufactured systems. In addition to the 1,000 Martlet missiles, the UK stated that a further 1,200 air defence missiles and 200,000 rounds of artillery ammunition will be delivered through the Air Defence Consortium in the coming months. The inclusion of 200,000 artillery rounds indicates that the package addresses both air defence and ground combat sustainment requirements. The combined measures reflect parallel reinforcement of short-range interception capacity and battlefield fire support. The quantities were presented as fixed figures within the February 12 announcement.

The February 12, 2026, meeting in Brussels brought together 50 nations to review Ukraine’s military requirements for 2026, coordinate equipment deliveries, and identify capability gaps. The session was co-chaired by the United Kingdom and Germany, with participation from Ukrainian Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, and Australian Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles. The UK referenced its role in co-leading the Contact Group with Germany and the Coalition of the Willing with France. The Martlet missile deliveries form part of a broader UK assistance framework that, since 2022, has included Stormer HVM systems, Starstreak missiles, ASRAAM conversions for ground launch, AS-90 artillery systems, M270B1 multiple launch rocket systems, Storm Shadow missiles, drones, naval craft, armoured vehicles, electronic warfare equipment, ammunition transfers, and financial and training programs.

Written by Jérôme Brahy

Jérôme Brahy is a defense analyst and documentalist at Army Recognition. He specializes in naval modernization, aviation, drones, armored vehicles, and artillery, with a focus on strategic developments in the United States, China, Ukraine, Russia, Türkiye, and Belgium. His analyses go beyond the facts, providing context, identifying key actors, and explaining why defense news matters on a global scale.