£350 Million UK Missile Deal Arms India With Martlets - All You Need To Know

India and the UK have signed a £350 million ($468 million) defence deal under which the Indian Army will receive UK-manufactured missiles. In a joint statement, the Centre 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,” while also “supporting a long-term collaboration on complex weapons between the two countries.”The announcement coincided with the second and final day of British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s first official visit to India, during which he met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Mumbai and was accompanied by a delegation of 125 business leaders.

A Mythical Bird That Never Rests

The Lightweight Multirole Missiles or LMMs, also known as Martlets, are lightweight air-to-surface, air-to-air, surface-to-air, and surface-to-surface missiles developed by Belfast-based defence contractor Thales Air Defence. The missiles are named after the mythical Martlet, a bird that never rests.Developed from the Starburst surface-to-air missile, these LMMs, which the UK is also supplying to Ukraine under a separate deal signed in March, are primarily used for air defence and can strike various military platforms including drones and armored vehicles.“The contract is set to deliver UK-manufactured Lightweight Multirole Missiles (LMM) built in Belfast to the Indian Army, representing another significant boost for the UK defence industry and delivering on the Government’s Plan for Change,” the UK Ministry of Defence said.The missile supply is expected to directly create over 700 jobs in Northern Ireland, one of the UK’s four constituent nations alongside England, Wales, and Scotland, the UK Ministry of Defence said. According to the statement, the agreement could "pave the way for a broader complex weapons partnership" between India and the UK, which is currently under negotiation. In addition, New Delhi and London signed an Implementing Agreement to advance collaboration on electric-powered engines for naval ships.“The defence deals announced today show how our growing strategic partnership with India will boost UK business and jobs. I am hopeful this will pave the way for a deeper relationship between our two defence industries, particularly in the development of electric engines for naval ships and in air defence,” British Defence Secretary John Healey said. “As we deepen our defence relationship with India, we will harness the UK defence industry as an engine for growth, securing vital jobs in Northern Ireland and throughout the UK.”