6 days ago
India Turns to Britain’s Low-Cost Martlet Missile for Drones
The Martlet is a small missile made in the United Kingdom.
It can be launched from a soldier’s equipment, a vehicle, a helicopter, or a ship.
The missile follows a laser beam aimed at a target.
It can attack drones and several other small battlefield or maritime targets.
India is interested because armies are seeing more inexpensive drones.
Using a very expensive air-defense missile against every small drone can cost too much.
Martlet offers a cheaper layer of protection, although its exact price for India is not public.
Britain has already used and tested the missile, including against drones, and has supplied large numbers to Ukraine.
The Martlet, or Lightweight Multirole Missile, is made by Thales UK in Belfast.
The approximately 13-kilogram missile travels at about Mach 1.5 and has a range exceeding 6 kilometers.
Its laser beam-riding guidance is designed to provide precision without requiring an expensive onboard seeker.
Martlet can target drones, helicopters, aircraft, small boats, and light or wheeled vehicles.
Britain has committed more than 6,000 Martlet missiles to Ukraine, while India is examining the weapon as a lower-cost counter-drone option.
- Who
- India, the United Kingdom, Thales UK, the Royal Navy, and Ukraine are identified in connection with the missile.
- What
- India is turning to or considering the Martlet, a lightweight multirole missile, for counter-drone and other tactical missions.
- Where
- The missile was developed and manufactured in Belfast, and has been used or tested in contexts including the Bay of Bengal and the Red Sea.
- When
- The Royal Navy first fired Martlet from a Wildcat helicopter in 2021; further drone-interception trials were reported in 2025, and Britain placed a £36 million counter-aerial-threat order in June 2026.
- Why
- India wants a relatively low-cost option for countering drones and other small threats without using expensive long-range air-defense missiles against each target.
Key facts
- Official name
- Lightweight Multirole Missile, known as Martlet by the Royal Navy
- Manufacturer
- Thales UK, Belfast
- Weight
- Approximately 13 kilograms
- Speed
- Around Mach 1.5
- Range
- More than 6 kilometers
- Guidance
- Laser beam-riding
- Estimated unit cost
- Approximately £40,000-£50,000 for a basic missile; India’s actual price has not been disclosed
- Ukraine commitment
- Britain has committed more than 6,000 missiles, including a 5,350-missile order followed by another 1,000 missiles
Sources
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