Ukraine and UK sign defense deal for 5,000 missiles over 19 years
FZ275 LGR missile by Thales (Forces Operations Blog)
Ukraine and the United Kingdom will sign a defense agreement under which Kyiv will receive 5,000 missiles for air defense needs. The missiles will be supplied over a period of 19 years, with the total value of the deal amounting to £2.5 billion, according to the UK government.
The agreement, described as "historic" by London, provides for the production of Thales air defense missiles over 19 years in the interest of Ukraine. At least 5,000 missiles are expected to be manufactured.
"We're enabling the delivery of vital equipment to Ukraine and strengthening our own defense industrial base," said UK Minister for Exports Gareth Thomas, commenting on the deal.
The agreement is set to be signed on 10 July during the Ukraine Recovery Conference taking place in Rome. In addition to the missile deal, the United Kingdom has pledged to provide Ukraine with bilateral assistance in 2026, amounting to up to £283 million.
What missiles Ukraine will receive
The deal involves 70mm FZ275 LGR rockets, designed for air defense purposes and manufactured by Thales Belgium. Ukraine had already signed a memorandum for their production back in November last year.
The FZ275 LGR is a cost-effective variant of an unguided aerial rocket, upgraded with a semi-active laser guidance system. The missile underwent its first trials in 2015 and has a range of up to 3,000 meters, making it effective against Russian attack drones.
Crucially, the missile is fully compatible with the Vampire air defense systems used by the Ukrainian Armed Forces to intercept enemy drones. This means mobile fire teams will gain an alternative to heavy machine guns, allowing more expensive air defense missiles to be conserved.
Not just missiles
Meanwhile, Germany is prepared to purchase Patriot air defense systems from the United States and transfer them to Ukraine. This was officially confirmed by Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
US President Donald Trump has also not ruled out the possibility of providing Ukraine with an additional Patriot missile defense system. He further pledged to resume the supply of ammunition for these systems.
