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LONDON, June 1 (Reuters) - Britain said it signed new contracts worth £36 million ($48.46 million) with defence company Thales TCFP.PA to supply hundreds of Lightweight Multirole missiles for the country's armed forces.

This type of missile has been used by UK forces to shoot down drones in the Middle East since the start of the Iran war.

Defence minister John Healey said in a statement that the missiles would "continue to keep the UK and our partners more secure in the Middle East and beyond."

The Ministry of Defence said deliveries would begin in the coming months.

($1 = 0.7429 pounds)