UK orders 5,000 LMM missiles from French Thales factory in Belfast, to strengthen Ukraine’s defense … with current capacity of 650 per year and fully booked in 2025, how long will it take to deliver 5000 to Ukraine?

The defense industry news outlet acknowledges the order given to Thales, a French defense company with a factory in Belfast.
GBP 1.6 billion have been contracted to produce 5000 light weight missiles. Small missiles that can be shouldered or fired from mobile units, helicopters.
This specialist news website reports: ” This agreement is the largest ever secured by Thales in Belfast and follows a previous contract for 650 missiles signed in September 2024. The first batch from the earlier deal was delivered before the end of the year.”
The production of 650 in the Belfast factory needs time. A first batch was delivered within 3 months, the rest during 2025.
It was reported that the Belfast factory will hire up to 200 new workers to increase capacity. This may take also some time.
All in all, the contract for the production of 5000 missiles is made for a long term delivery. 3 years, 5 years? Hopefully, the war in Ukraine ends within shortest time, within weeks or months.
The missiles will be a nice accessory for any warehouse, then. Best not to deliver them to Ukraine in times of peace – if one listens to critical voices from the US, weapons delivered to Ukraine seem to find their easy way to the cartels in Mexico.