UK orders production of 5,000 missiles for Ukraine
Illustrative photo: Ukrainian soldier (Getty Images)
The UK government and the Irish company Thales have signed an agreement to produce more than 5,000 anti-tank guided missiles for Ukraine, The Economist reports.
According to the agency, this agreement is great news for Thales' division, as such an order indicates the company's growth.
"The 850-strong workforce will expand to 1,050 over the next two years, and Thales will open a third Northern Irish facility," the article states.
The Economist writes that due to geopolitical shifts following the election of US President Donald Trump, Northern Ireland could receive more defense contracts.
Ulster University economist Esmond Birnie believes that the company Harland and Wolff, which built the Titanic, is also likely to secure more contracts, as "the presence of the immense dry dock in Belfast takes on a strategic value."
"Northern Ireland is now a place of peace, and wants to be known for it. It has welcomed Ukrainian refugees, and all the main parties (including Sinn Féin) support the resistance to Russia’s invasion. But bringing peace to Ukraine, and preserving it in the rest of Europe, may mean more defence contracts for the province—however uncomfortable that may be for some," the material states.
It is also worth noting that Thales played a crucial role before Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. At that time, the UK sent NLAW missiles to Ukraine, which were developed by the Swedish company Saab but manufactured by Thales workers in Belfast. However, it remains unclear which specific missiles will be produced for Ukraine this time.
NLAW
NLAW is a man-portable anti-tank missile system developed by the British-Swedish company Saab in collaboration with MBDA UK. It combines ease of use with high effectiveness against armored vehicles, allowing infantry to destroy tanks from distances of up to 800 meters. With its "fire-and-forget" principle, the missile autonomously adjusts its trajectory, while the top-attack system ensures strikes on the least protected parts of a tank.
One of NLAW’s key advantages is its ability to be fired from the shelter or even enclosed spaces, making it ideal for guerrilla and urban warfare. The system requires minimal training, allowing even inexperienced fighters to operate it effectively. Thanks to its mobility and power, NLAW has become a crucial weapon in Ukraine’s defense against Russian aggression, successfully destroying enemy armored vehicles.
Earlier, we reported that on February 27, Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at Shannon Airport during a brief stopover on Zelenskyy’s way to the US.
During the meeting, Martin expressed Ireland’s willingness to support Ukraine, including the potential deployment of peacekeepers.
