Britain has signed a new £36 million contract with Thales to deliver hundreds of Light Multi‑Role (LMM) missiles in 2026, following successful use of the weapons to down more than 100 drones in the Middle East. The deal, which builds on earlier agreements, is expected to preserve around 700 jobs in Belfast. The LMM, with a 6‑km range and laser beam‑riding guidance, is a key anti‑drone system for the UK armed forces, deployed via the RapidRanger air‑defence platform and Wildcat naval helicopters. The UK previously announced orders for 5,000 missiles for Ukraine in March 2025 and an additional 1,000 in February 2026, reflecting growing demand for low‑cost, effective counter‑UAV solutions.