The United Kingdom has sent a large consignment of light multi-purpose missiles to Ukraine Martlet (LMM), designed to intercept Russian drones and low-flying targets. The new delivery is intended to cover the critically important «middle zone» of air defence, protecting Ukrainian cities and infrastructure from massive raids by Shahed-type UAVs.
The total aid package of 6,000 units was delivered in stages, beginning with the UK Ministry of Defence’s initial orders in 2024–2025 and followed by additional batches in 2026. The weapon has already been rigorously tested in real combat — Ukrainian defenders have successfully destroyed over a hundred aerial targets using this system.
Why Martlet spells doom for Russian UAVs
The key advantage of the Martlet missiles lies in their unique guidance system and cost-effectiveness. Unlike traditional man-portable air defence systems (MANPADS), which track the heat signature of an engine, the Martlet uses laser beam-riding technology.
Laser guidance offers Ukrainian operators several key advantages:
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Ignoring thermal traps: It is impossible to deceive the missile by firing decoys or thermal flares.
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Effectiveness against «cold» targets: The system easily intercepts reconnaissance drones and unmanned aerial vehicles equipped with quiet electric or low-power engines that generate almost no heat.
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Resilience to electronic warfare: As the laser receiver is located at the rear of the missile and is directed back towards the launcher, enemy electronic warfare systems cannot intercept or jam the control signal.
Economic balance of the PPO: The use of heavy and expensive missiles such as Patriot Shooting down relatively cheap kamikaze drones is a drain on military resources. The compact and significantly cheaper Martlet is the ideal solution to this problem, allowing larger systems to be reserved for countering ballistic threats.
Technical specifications of the LMM Martlet missile
| Parameter. | Meaning. |
| Developer / Manufacturer | Thales Air Defence (Belfast, United Kingdom) |
| Rocket mass | 13 kg (lightweight, easy to transport) |
| Length / Diameter | 1.3 m / 76 mm |
| Range | Over 6 km |
| Flight speed | Approximately 1.5 Mach (supersonic) |
| Combat unit | 3 kg, cumulative-fragmentation with a non-contact laser fuse |
Launch platforms: from shoulder-fired to armoured vehicles
Martlet — is a versatile weapon. The British Army has it as standard equipment on its Wildcat maritime helicopters, but in Ukraine it is being deployed on land-based platforms.
The Ukrainian military uses missiles in three main variants:
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Portable MANPADS: The weapon is fired by the soldier directly from the shoulder using a special launch tube and a sighting unit.
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Tracked armoured vehicles: Integration with the Alvis Stormer mobile anti-aircraft missile systems.
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Mobile ground-based units: Deployment of high-speed systems such as RapidRanger, … which are mounted on light all-wheel-drive armoured vehicles. This enables mobile fire teams to quickly move out to intercept «Shahedov» based on their flight path.
In addition to the direct supply of ready-made weapon systems, the contracts signed by London with Thales lay the groundwork for a long-term localisation of production and the transfer of technology directly to Ukraine, which should ensure a stable supply in the future.
