Ukraine to Bolster Air Defense with 5,000 Multirole Missiles and RapidRanger Launchers from Britain

During a visit by a Ukrainian delegation to the United Kingdom, an agreement was reached on a major defense partnership. London is providing a £1.6 billion loan for a project aimed at strengthening Ukraine’s air defense. The project includes:

• The delivery of 5,000 Lightweight Multirole Missiles (LMM)

• The transfer of RapidRanger launch systems

Why is this weaponry important?

This equipment is primarily used to shoot down Iranian Shahed drones, which Russia has been using to attack Ukrainian cities and energy infrastructure. These drone strikes occur on a massive scale—one of the latest attacks involved a simultaneous launch of 267 drones across Ukraine.

Due to the ongoing air threats, strengthening Ukraine's air defense remains a constant challenge. The new contract is expected to help address this issue. The project will be financed under the guarantees of UK Export Finance, with participation from the British defense company Thales alongside Ukrainian governmental agencies and enterprises.

Lightweight Multirole Missile and RapidRanger

The Lightweight Multirole Missile (LMM) is not new to Ukraine—Britain has already supplied these missiles before. According to Ukrainian officials, LMMs have proven their effectiveness in combat, making the expansion of supplies a crucial step in bolstering air defense.

• Weight: 13 kg

• Range: Up to 6 km

• Speed: 1.5 Mach

These missiles are primarily used against enemy drones.

One of the key advantages of LMM is its adaptability to various launch systems. Ukraine already operates Marlet MANPADS and Stormer air defense systems, both of which can fire LMMs.

In addition to LMMs, the UK is providing RapidRanger launchers, manufactured by Thales. The RapidRanger system consists of four missile launch compartments, is adaptable to different vehicle platforms, and can integrate additional systems such as target-tracking and thermal imaging cameras. According to the manufacturer, RapidRanger can detect targets at a distance of up to 15 km.

Localization of production in Ukraine

Though lacking detailed disclosure, a crucial aspect of the agreement is the collaboration between Ukraine and the UK. While specifics were not shared with the press, it is known that Britain also aims to assist in localizing the production of LMM missiles in Ukraine by transferring the necessary technologies. This initiative is intended to enhance Ukraine’s defense self-sufficiency.

Beyond strengthening independence, local production will allow Ukraine to increase missile output while reducing risks associated with supply delays.

Ukraine has already demonstrated its capacity for large-scale arms production, as seen with the Bohdana self-propelled artillery system—with an average of 15 units produced per month, one of the highest production rates in the world.

This partnership marks a significant step toward boosting Ukraine’s air defense capabilities while securing a more sustainable and independent weapons supply chain.