Latest news with #NLAW
The Independent
05-03-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Arms manufacturer to open third facility in Northern Ireland
A major weapons manufacturer is set to open a third facility in Northern Ireland, Assembly members have heard. Thales UK operates two sites in the region – with high-precision missiles designed and produced at a plant in east Belfast, and final missile assembly at another plant in Crossgar, Co Down. It designs and produces missiles including Starstreak, Lightweight Multi-role Missile (LMM) systems as well as final assembly of the Saab designed NLAW. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer recently announced that Thales would supply 5,000 LMMs to Ukraine in a deal worth up to £1.6 billion. Appearing at the Stormont Economy committee, Nigel MacVean, managing director for Thales in Northern Ireland, revealed plans for a third site. He also told MLAs that missiles have been shipped from Belfast to the front line in Ukraine and are making an impact. He said LMMs are 'widely recognised as one of the key drivers in keeping Russian helicopters out of Ukraine', while the NLAW 'is widely regarded as being responsible for keeping Russian tanks out of Kyiv'. Mr MacVean said the firm has been on a rapid growth curve over the last couple of years, and will continue to grow rapidly. He said there are currently 850 direct employees in Belfast and they expect to create another 200 jobs over the next two years. 'We'll expand our footprint from the two existing sites we have in Northern Ireland to a third site as well as part of that expansion plan,' he told MLAs. 'We're at the moment just launching around £100 million worth of investment in our facilities, capital infrastructure in Northern Ireland. That'll be largely undertaken by local companies.' The committee heard from a number of firms during its meeting on Wednesday morning which included a briefing from the UK Aerospace, Defence, Security and Space industries (ADS) on the need for a long-term strategic plan to support the industry. Leslie Orr, from the ADS Group – a trade body for sectors, said the industry is now worth £2.2 billion to the Northern Ireland economy, and employs more than 10,000 people. 'It's a critical sector for Northern Ireland,' he added.
BBC News
05-03-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Thales to open third facility in NI
Thales, the French-owned arms company, is to open a third facility in Northern Ireland, MLAs have been Sunday Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced that Thales would supply 5,000 of its lightweight multirole missiles (LMMs) to Ukraine in a deal worth up to £1.6bnThe company currently has a factory in east Belfast and a test facility in County managing director Nigel MacVean said the company was investing £100m in NI which would include opening at a third site. The company is also planning to recruit 200 additional staff over the next two to a Stormont committee Mr MacVean said the LMMs were keeping Russian helicopters out of Ukraine and another Thales weapon, the Next generation Light Anti-tank Weapon (the NLAW), had kept Russian tanks out of began delivering LMMs to Ukraine at the end of 2024 as part of an initial £162m contract for 650 of the missiles. The new order is in addition to contract has been placed by the MoD's procurement arm Defence Equipment & Support on behalf of the Ukrainian will be funded by a loan underwritten by United Kingdom Export Finance (UKEF) after a deal signed last year to allow Ukraine to draw on £3.5bn worth of support from UKEF to spend with UK industry.
Yahoo
14-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Britain must now be a voice for Ukraine
When the histories of the Ukraine war are written, Britain's actions at its outbreak are likely to be viewed as pivotal to its outcome. When other capitals dithered, London supplied military aid, including NLAW anti-tank weapons, and rallied support around the world. This conflict now appears to be approaching a possible conclusion, with Donald Trump declaring his intention to open negotiations with counterpart Vladimir Putin. Notably, Europe does not appear to be set to play a significant role in the negotiations. Diplomats across the continent have made clear their displeasure at this outcome, but the simple reality of hard power is that he who pays the piper calls the tune. European capitals have spent years talking as if this were the second coming of 1938, on the precipice of a potential continental war of cataclysmic proportions. With a few noble exceptions such as Warsaw, however, they have not backed these words with the requisite spending on defence. If Donald Trump feels able to unilaterally decide the future of Europe, it is because Europe has passed up the opportunity to decide it for itself. With that said, it is clear that Ukraine, at least, should be allowed some say in its future. President Zelensky has stated that it will not accept any deal negotiated without Kyiv's participation. While there is little doubting its will to fight on, there are legitimate questions about its ability to do so without the support provided by the United States. Just as Britain stepped up at the beginning of this conflict, it should step up again as it approaches its potential end. Our role now is to be a voice for Ukraine and its interests, to ensure that these are not lost in the rush to strike a bargain, and that preparation is made for its reconstruction. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Telegraph
14-02-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
Britain must now be a voice for Ukraine
When the histories of the Ukraine war are written, Britain's actions at its outbreak are likely to be viewed as pivotal to its outcome. When other capitals dithered, London supplied military aid, including NLAW anti-tank weapons, and rallied support around the world. This conflict now appears to be approaching a possible conclusion, with Donald Trump declaring his intention to open negotiations with counterpart Vladimir Putin. Notably, Europe does not appear to be set to play a significant role in the negotiations. Diplomats across the continent have made clear their displeasure at this outcome, but the simple reality of hard power is that he who pays the piper calls the tune. European capitals have spent years talking as if this were the second coming of 1938, on the precipice of a potential continental war of cataclysmic proportions. With a few noble exceptions such as Warsaw, however, they have not backed these words with the requisite spending on defence. If Donald Trump feels able to unilaterally decide the future of Europe, it is because Europe has passed up the opportunity to decide it for itself. With that said, it is clear that Ukraine, at least, should be allowed some say in its future. President Zelensky has stated that it will not accept any deal negotiated without Kyiv's participation. While there is little doubting its will to fight on, there are legitimate questions about its ability to do so without the support provided by the United States. Just as Britain stepped up at the beginning of this conflict, it should step up again as it approaches its potential end. Our role now is to be a voice for Ukraine and its interests, to ensure that these are not lost in the rush to strike a bargain, and that preparation is made for its reconstruction.
