UK to buy more Martlet missiles for C-UAS role

A file photo of a Royal Navy wildcat helicopter carrying a full loadout of 20 Martlets. The MoD is acquiring more of the missiles, largely for the C-UAS role. (Leonardo)

The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) has announced a follow-on order for additional Thales Martlet missiles, to be used by the Royal Navy and British Army largely in the counter-unmanned aircraft system (C-UAS) role.

The MoD announced the buy on 18 March, as part of a wider raft of measures to support UK and allied interests in the Gulf region following Iranian attacks after the start of US and Israeli strikes on 28 February.

“[The wider support package] comes as the MoD confirmed that the UK intends to buy further Lightweight Multirole Missiles (LMM), to supply British forces and support partners in the region, including with training in the UK where needed,” the MoD said, referring to the Martlet by its industry name.

The Royal Navy employs the Martlet missile from its Leonardo AW159 Wildcat HMA2 helicopters, three of which are currently providing emergency C-UAS protection for Royal Air Force (RAF) Akrotiri in Cyprus. The Wildcat can carry as many as 20 Martlets on the four hardpoints of its removable weapons wings. The British Army uses the Martlet as a ground-based short range air-defence (SHORAD) missile for its Stormer vehicles.

The MoD has not disclosed how many Martlet missiles it holds or how many are included in this follow-up order. However, the announcement comes 20 months after the government announced in July 2024 a GBP176 million (USD227 million at the time) deal with Thales for what it called “a significant number” of the missiles, as part of an always on production stance for both the UK and Ukraine.