Ukraine Receives New Missiles to Combat Drones

The United Kingdom has transferred additional quantities of multi-role Martlet missiles to Ukraine, which are used for the destruction of unmanned aerial vehicles, reports The Times.

British authorities have not officially announced the supply of Martlet missiles, but the first mention of their use in Ukraine appeared back in 2022. In September, UK Defense Secretary Grant Shapps stated that London would provide key support to Ukraine in the coming months, including air defense, long-range missiles, and training for Ukrainian soldiers.

The 1.5 Mach laser-guided Martlet missiles are produced by the French Thales defense industrial group at one of its facilities in Belfast. The company markets the missile as munitions with a wide range of applications. They can be transported by helicopters, boats, and ground platforms, and the missile can also be launched from Starstreak man-portable air defense systems, which are also supplied to Ukraine.

The length of the Martlet missile is 1.3 meters, its diameter is 76 mm, and its weight is 13 kg. The mass of the warhead is 3 kg, and the flight range is 8 km. The exact number of missiles transferred to Ukraine has not been disclosed.