Article Posted on : - Apr 08, 2011

Artist's impression of a Lynx Wildcat equipped with Thales Lightweight multi-role missiles. Photo: AgustaWestland.

LONDON (BNS): Thales UK will produce 1000 lightweight multi-role missiles for UK forces under an innovative contract for affordable weapons systems.

Thales UK and UK Ministry of Defence (MoD), under the principles of Team Complex Weapons (TCW), have agreed to 're-role’ previously contracted budgets to facilitate the full-scale development, series production and introduction of the Lightweight Multi-role Missile (LMM) into service for UK Armed Forces.

According to the contract, Thales will design and develop the laser beam rider of lightweight multi-role missiles, produce and deliver 1000 LMMs and supply a precision-guidance system that will deliver a highly accurate performance against static and mobile targets and with low-collateral damage.

The multi-role aspects of LMM mean that the UK will have the ability to use a single family of weapons to take on a variety of roles.

"This contract will help broaden our UK design, development and manufacturing capabilities that specialise in lightweight and short-range missiles, such as our Starstreak and VT1 air defence products and the NLAW anti-armour weapon," David Beatty, Managing Director of Thales UK’s Belfast facility, where LMM will be manufactured, was quoted as saying in the company news release.

"LMM is unique in that it’s the first lightweight weapon family to be specially designed to have a wide range of operational roles. We firmly believe that this is what Armed Forces require now and in the future as it not only can provide adaptability in the battlefield but also major benefits in whole life costs by having one weapon family with a highly cost-effective associated logistic support," David Beatty added.