It’s no surprise that Ukraine has become a new, major market for British arms exports. In the 10 years up to Russia’s invasion in 2022, UK firms sold only around £35m of military equipment. In the three years since the invasion, 2022-24, exports skyrocketed to £1.1bn.

Last September defence secretary John Healey announced a further award benefitting Thales – a contract worth £162m to supply Ukraine with 650 LMMs. The MoD said categorically: “This contract with Thales in the UK will further prime the world leading British defence industry to increase production rates, enabling future production to be ramped up”.

Thales has also received new orders from the MoD to supply Starstreak high velocity missiles and anti-tank weapons after that equipment has been gifted to Ukraine.

These contracts are especially noteworthy in that Thales is currently being investigated by the Serious Fraud Office for suspected bribery and corruption. The probe is reportedly over suspicions of corruption linked to arms sales abroad. Thales denies the allegations.