Air Defense

LMM Martlet

Also known as
  • Lightweight Multirole Missile
  • LMM
  • Martlet
  • Thales LMM
  • Thales Martlet
  • FASGW(L)

LMM Martlet is a British Thales-built lightweight multirole missile used as a short-range air-defense and anti-surface weapon. The 13 kg laser-guided missile is associated with Royal Navy Wildcat helicopters, Stormer-based short-range air-defense launchers, Ukrainian air-defense aid, and British counter-drone operations, giving it a compact role against drones, helicopters, small maritime craft, light vehicles, and other fast targets.

LMM Martlet, Laser-guided lightweight multirole missile, Air Defense
Image source: Wikimedia AW159 Wildcat equipped with Martlet missiles

Role in Conflicts

Profile / Specs

Profile

Origin
United Kingdom
Type
Laser-guided lightweight multirole missile
Service note
Introduced on Royal Navy Wildcat helicopters in the 2020s; supplied to Ukraine during the full-scale phase of the Russia-Ukraine war; used by British forces for counter-drone defense in the Middle East.
Designer
Thales Air Defence / Thales UK
Designed
Developed for the UK's Future Anti-Surface Guided Weapon (Light) requirement
Produced
In production at Thales Belfast during the 2020s

Specifications

Launch weight
13 kg
Speed
Mach 1.5 class
Range
More than 6 km
Guidance
Laser-guided / laser beam-riding missile
Primary roles
Short-range air defense and precision anti-surface attack
Targets
Drones, helicopters, aircraft, small maritime targets, fast inshore attack craft, light vehicles, and armored personnel carriers
Launch platforms
Wildcat helicopter, Stormer combat vehicle, and other land, sea, or air launch options described by UK sources
Manufacturing site
Thales Belfast, Northern Ireland
Recent operational use
UK government reporting in 2026 said LMMs had helped defeat more than 100 drones in the Middle East, including with RAF Regiment Rapid Sentry teams
Launcher And Target Set

LMM Martlet is best read as a small guided effector rather than a single launcher system. UK and Royal Navy sources connect it to Wildcat helicopters, British short-range air-defense vehicles such as Stormer, RAF Regiment Rapid Sentry air-defense teams, and land, sea, and air firing options.

Typical targets

Drones, helicopters, other aircraft, small maritime targets, fast inshore attack craft, and light armored or vehicle targets.

Wildcat loadout

Royal Navy reporting says Wildcat HMA Mk2 can carry up to 20 Martlet missiles for carrier-strike-group protection and maritime strike tasks.

Ukraine context

UK government releases describe LMM as an air-defense missile supplied to Ukraine, including 650 missiles announced in 2024 and a later deal for more than 5,000 missiles.

Recent UK use

A 2026 UK release says LMMs helped defeat more than 100 drones in the Middle East, including use by RAF Regiment gunners with Rapid Sentry air-defense equipment.

Sources: GOV.UK 2024 LMM order; Royal Navy CSG Martlet firing; GOV.UK 650 LMM Ukraine package; GOV.UK 5000 LMM Ukraine deal; GOV.UK 2026 LMM stockpile contracts.

Launch Platforms

LMM can be fitted to several land, sea, and air launch options. The cataloged tracked launcher below is linked because UK sources identify Stormer combat vehicles as part of the LMM-supported short-range air-defense fleet.

LauncherLauncher typeLaunch evidence
Stormer HVM, Self-propelled short-range air-defense missile system, Air DefenseStormer HVMTracked self-propelled air-defense launcher

UK government procurement material names British Army Stormer combat vehicles among the short-range air-defense capabilities equipped by LMM orders, alongside the Royal Navy Wildcat Martlet system.

Sources: GOV.UK 2024 LMM order

Air-launched context

Royal Navy and Leonardo sources separately document Martlet integration on AW159 Wildcat helicopters, including a 20-missile Wildcat loadout and operational firings from the naval helicopter.

Sources: Leonardo AW159 Martlet firings, Royal Navy CSG Martlet firing

Timeline

LMM Martlet Key Events

  1. Wildcat firing trials completed

    Leonardo and Thales announced successful Martlet LMM firings from the AW159 Wildcat under the UK Future Anti-Surface Guided Weapon programme.

    Sources: Leonardo AW159 Martlet firings

  2. First Royal Navy operational firing

    A Royal Navy Wildcat fired Martlet during the Carrier Strike Group deployment, demonstrating the missile as part of the carrier force's protection against small maritime targets.

    Sources: Royal Navy CSG Martlet firing

  3. Ukraine air-defense package announced

    The UK announced a GBP 162 million package for 650 LMM systems to strengthen Ukrainian air defense, with the first batch expected before the end of 2024.

    Sources: GOV.UK 650 LMM Ukraine package

  4. Large Ukraine production deal

    The UK announced a GBP 1.6 billion deal for more than 5,000 LMMs for Ukraine, with production at Thales Belfast planned to expand substantially.

    Sources: GOV.UK 5000 LMM Ukraine deal

  5. Royal Navy full operating capability

    The Royal Navy said Martlet had completed extensive trials against aerial and surface targets and was fully ready for front-line action from Wildcat helicopters.

    Sources: Royal Navy Martlet full operating capability

  6. UK orders more LMMs after Middle East counter-drone use

    The UK announced new LMM contracts for British stockpiles and said the missiles had been used on operations in the Middle East, including by RAF Regiment Rapid Sentry teams and Wildcat helicopters deployed from Cyprus.

    Sources: GOV.UK 2026 LMM stockpile contracts

Media

LMM Martlet Videos

LMM Martlet Images

LMM Martlet, Laser-guided lightweight multirole missile, Air Defense - view 1
Source: Wikimedia First Operational Martlet Firing
Related Weapon Systems
Starstreak, Short-range surface-to-air missile / MANPADS, Air DefenseAir DefenseStarstreakShort-range surface-to-air missile / MANPADSStarstreak is a British laser beam-riding short-range air-defense missile built by Thales Air Defence and fielded in shoulder-fired, lightweight multiple-launcher, and Stormer HVM configurations. The missile uses three dart-like projectiles and travels at more than three times the speed of sound, giving close air-defense teams a fast optically guided weapon against helicopters, low-flying aircraft, and some unmanned aircraft. The United Kingdom supplied Starstreak missiles and Stormer vehicles with Starstreak launchers to Ukraine during the 2014 Russia-Ukraine War, where Ukrainian forces used them as part of layered short-range air defense.
Stormer HVM, Self-propelled short-range air-defense missile system, Air DefenseAir DefenseStormer HVMSelf-propelled short-range air-defense missile systemStormer HVM is a British self-propelled Starstreak High Velocity Missile air-defense system mounted on the tracked Alvis Stormer vehicle. It combines a protected CVR(T)-derived carrier, passive target-alerting equipment, and a roof launcher with eight ready Starstreak missiles for close air defense against low-flying aircraft, helicopters, and UAVs. The United Kingdom announced Stormer transfers to Ukraine in April 2022, later stated that six Stormer vehicles with Starstreak launchers had been supplied, and Ukrainian reporting placed the systems on the frontline by late July 2022.
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Sources

Thales Lightweight Multirole MissilePublisher: Thales Group | Note: Official product page supporting LMM identity, precision missile role, laser guidance, and land, sea, and air platform context. | Accessed: 2026-07-07GOV.UK 2024 LMM orderPublisher: UK Ministry of Defence / Defence Equipment and Support | Note: Supports 13 kg weight, target set, Thales Belfast production, Stormer and Wildcat launcher context, and 2014 Russia-Ukraine War direct transfer/use context by reporting that hundreds of LMMs were gifted to Ukraine and used by Ukrainian allies. | Accessed: 2026-07-07GOV.UK 650 LMM Ukraine packagePublisher: UK Ministry of Defence | Note: Supports 2014 Russia-Ukraine War direct transfer and use context by documenting 650 LMM systems supplied to Ukraine for air defense, prior LMM deliveries to Ukraine, Ukrainian use against Russian drones and air threats, and Mach 1.5 / more-than-6 km performance. | Accessed: 2026-07-07GOV.UK 5000 LMM Ukraine dealPublisher: UK Ministry of Defence | Note: Supports 2014 Russia-Ukraine War direct transfer and use context by documenting more than 5,000 LMMs for Ukraine, Thales Belfast production, and Ukrainian air-defense use protecting civilians and critical infrastructure. | Accessed: 2026-07-07GOV.UK early LMM delivery to UkrainePublisher: UK Ministry of Defence | Note: Supports 2014 Russia-Ukraine War direct delivery and use context by stating that Belfast-manufactured LMMs were delivered to Ukraine early and have helped protect Ukrainian airspace since Russia's full-scale invasion. | Accessed: 2026-07-07Leonardo AW159 Martlet firingsPublisher: Leonardo | Note: Supports AW159 Wildcat integration, FASGW(L) programme context, airborne laser guidance integration, small maritime and aerial target roles, and a 20-Martlet Wildcat carriage statement. | Accessed: 2026-07-07Royal Navy CSG Martlet firingPublisher: Royal Navy | Note: Supports Royal Navy operational firing, Wildcat carriage of up to 20 Martlet missiles, carrier-strike-group protection role, and laser-sensor missile context. | Accessed: 2026-07-07Royal Navy Martlet full operating capabilityPublisher: Royal Navy | Note: Supports Martlet as the Royal Navy name for LMM, Wildcat-launched Mach 1.5 performance, Belfast production, full operating capability, and successful trials against aerial and surface targets. | Accessed: 2026-07-07GOV.UK 2026 LMM stockpile contractsPublisher: UK Ministry of Defence / Defence Equipment and Support | Note: Supports recent LMM production, Thales Belfast manufacturing, UK stockpile contracts, Wildcat deployment context from Cyprus, and operational counter-drone use in the Middle East by RAF Regiment Rapid Sentry teams. | Accessed: 2026-07-13Wikimedia AW159 Wildcat equipped with Martlet missilesPublisher: Wikimedia Commons / UK Ministry of Defence | Note: Supports primary image provenance and OGL licensing for the Wildcat carrying Martlet missiles. | Accessed: 2026-07-07Wikimedia First Operational Martlet FiringPublisher: Wikimedia Commons / UK Ministry of Defence | Note: Supports gallery image provenance and OGL licensing for a Royal Navy Martlet firing. | Accessed: 2026-07-07