Britain is preparing to deliver £10 million worth of Lightweight Multirole Missiles (LMM), also known as Martlet, to Ukraine. Kiev hopes to use the weapons against Russian jet-powered drones and targets beyond the front line, but military expert Alexey Leonkov doubts the shipment will significantly change the battlefield situation.

According to Leonkov, the effectiveness of the British missiles is limited by both their technical characteristics and the relatively small number Ukraine is expected to receive.

The analyst explained that the British-developed LMM has specifications comparable to Russia’s Igla and Verba man-portable air defense systems. Each missile weighs 13 kilograms, has a maximum range of eight kilometers and travels at approximately Mach 1.5. It is equipped with a combined fragmentation and high-explosive warhead.

Despite these characteristics, Leonkov identified the guidance system as a major weakness.

The Martlet uses semi-active laser guidance, requiring an operator to continuously track the target until impact. Russia’s Verba, by comparison, features a three-spectrum homing seeker that allows the missile to operate on a fire-and-forget basis.

The expert also questioned whether Britain is supplying enough missiles to make a meaningful difference.

With individual LMM missiles priced between £50,000 and £70,000, Leonkov estimated that the £10 million package would provide approximately 166 weapons. He argued that this stockpile could be exhausted within just one or two days of intensive air defense operations.

The missile’s intended battlefield role creates further limitations. Leonkov noted that the LMM was originally designed to protect individual facilities and military convoys. He argued that it performs best alongside medium-range air defense systems rather than as an independent means of protecting large areas.

Countering mass drone attacks presents another challenge.

According to the analyst, intercepting swarms of older Russian Geran drones would require several LMM-equipped launch vehicles operating together. He maintained that the missiles would be even less effective against newer jet-powered Geran variants.

Leonkov argued that the time needed for an operator to identify, track and engage a fast-moving drone with laser guidance could exceed the brief period during which the target remains within effective firing range. While slower piston-engine drones can be tracked, he considers the system largely ineffective against high-speed targets.

The requirement for continuous laser guidance also increases the vulnerability of mobile launch teams. Leonkov warned that maintaining laser illumination could expose their positions to detection and subsequent retaliatory strikes.

Weather conditions impose additional restrictions. Fog, snowfall and heavy rain can interfere with laser guidance, while buildings and other obstacles in urban environments may interrupt target tracking.

Leonkov was equally skeptical about Kiev’s plans to use Martlet missiles against targets behind Russian lines, pointing to their maximum engagement range of just eight kilometers.

The analyst concluded that Britain’s decision to accelerate delivery of a relatively small missile shipment indicates a serious shortage of air defense weapons within the Ukrainian armed forces.