Thales UK announced plans to open a third facility in Northern Ireland to help meet growing demand for missile systems following government contracts worth £1.6 billion. Managing Director Nigel MacVean shared insights with the Stormont Economy committee on the positive impact of their Lightweight Multi-role Missiles and NLAW systems in Ukraine. Thales currently employs 850 people and expects to hire 200 more, investing £100 million into local infrastructure. This expansion aligns with shifting UK defense strategy under Sir Keir Starmer, who emphasizes increased spending and industry involvement in national security.
"MacVean said the 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."
"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."
"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 whole approach to national security must now change. We will have to ask British industry, British universities, British businesses and the British people to play a bigger part."
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