Defense Secretary Ben Wallace has announced that a £229 million deal has been agreed with Saab, a Swedish manufacturing company, to assemble Next Generation Light Anti-Tank Weapon (NLAW) systems. Wallace said the weapons played a “decisive role” in supporting the Ukrainian military’s effort to repel the Russian invasion. “Working with our world-class industry partners, we continue to deliver on our commitment to NATO by ensuring our armed forces receive a steady supply of these weapons over the coming years, while supporting UK jobs across the length and breadth of the country . ” he continued. Putin gives rare update on war situation – live updates The NLAW is a shoulder-launched missile system that can be operated by a single soldier to take out a heavily protected modern main battle tank from a distance of 20 to 800 meters. The defense weapons will be assembled at the Thales facility in Belfast, Northern Ireland before being handed over to the military.
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Secured through the Ministry of Defense (MOD) procurement arm, Defense Equipment and Support, several thousand units will be delivered to the armed forces in the UK during 2024-2026, in addition to 500, which will be procured through a separate procurement, delivered in 2023. The units’ flexibility, reliability and accuracy were an “important capability in Ukraine’s opposition to Russia,” according to the MOD. They were part of the 10,000 anti-tank weapons the UK has supplied to the Ukrainian armed forces since Russia invaded in February this year. “The UK continues to work actively with allies and partners to assist Ukraine, while rapidly replenishing equipment and ammunition from stockpiles,” the Foreign Office said.
