$468 million missile contract between India and UK explained: All you need to know about Martlets

PM Modi and his British counterpart.

India and the UK have finalized a £350 million ($468 million) defence deal under which the Indian Army will receive UK-made Lightweight Multirole Missiles (LMMs). The agreement was announced during British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s visit to Mumbai, where he met Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The deal, part of the broader commercial ties stemming from the recent trade agreement between the two countries, is expected to enhance India’s air defence capabilities while supporting strategic collaboration in advanced weaponry.

According to the UK Ministry of Defence, the contract will secure over 700 jobs at the Belfast factory of Thales, which manufactures the missiles. The missiles and launchers supplied to India are the same as those currently produced in Northern Ireland for Ukraine.

The agreement also includes an Implementing Agreement to advance cooperation on electric-powered engines for naval ships, reflecting the growing defence partnership between London and New Delhi.

British Defence Secretary John Healey said, “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.”

The deal is expected to support India’s current and future defence requirements while promoting long-term collaboration on complex weapons.

What are Lightweight Multirole missiles?

The Lightweight Multirole Missiles (LMMs), also known as Martlets, are versatile missiles capable of air-to-surface, air-to-air, surface-to-air, and surface-to-surface operations, developed by Belfast-based Thales Air Defence.

Named after the mythical Martlet, a bird that never roosts, the missiles were derived from the Starburst surface-to-air missile to meet the UK’s “Future Air-to-Surface Guided Weapon (Light)” requirement for the Royal Navy.

These missiles are designed for air defence and can engage a range of military targets, including drones and armored vehicles. Besides supplying India under the latest contract, the UK is also providing LMMs to Ukraine under a separate deal signed in March.

“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.

According to the Ministry of Defence, the agreement could "pave the way for a broader complex weapons partnership" between India and the UK, which is currently under negotiation. Additionally, New Delhi and London signed an Implementing Agreement to advance cooperation on electric-powered engines for naval ships.