Britain has announced it has ordered thousands of new anti-tank weapons as part of a £229 million (€265 million) contract with Swedish manufacturer Saab to replenish its stockpile after sending thousands of them to Ukraine, Agerpres reports.

Britain’s Ministry of Defense announced on Wednesday that it has provided a large number of NLAW (New Generation Light Anti-Tank Weapon) systems to Ukraine this year to support it in its fight against Russian forces.

British Defense Minister Ben Wallace said in a statement that the weapon had already played a “crucial role” in supporting the Ukrainian army.

“We continue to meet our commitments to NATO by ensuring that our armed forces receive a steady supply of these weapons for years to come,” he said.

Britain, under three different prime ministers this year, has provided Ukraine with a wide range of weapons, including an air defense package to shoot down drones, and helped train the Ukrainian armed forces.

The new contract will increase the number of NLAW deliveries to the UK by several thousand between 2024 and 2026, in addition to the 500 units planned for 2023 through a separate purchase.

The NLAW systems will be assembled at Thales’ facility in Belfast, Northern Ireland, and delivered to the British Army.

It is a system of missiles that can be launched from the shoulder and used by a soldier to destroy a modern and well-protected battle tank from a distance of 20 to 800 meters, the message says.

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