The UK has allowed European defence company MBDA to disclose classified information about British components of the SCALP long-range cruise missile, allowing Ukraine and France to set up assembly lines for the missiles on Ukrainian territory.
About the solutionthe British government reported on August 24in the office of British Prime Minister Andy Burnham, who arrived in Kyiv on Ukraine’s Independence Day for his first foreign visit in office.
SCALP is the French version of the Storm Shadow missile. Both systems are developed by the European MBDA and use joint British and French technologies. It is a long-range aircraft missile weighing about 1.3 tons, designed to destroy important stationary targets, including fortified objects and infrastructure. The system uses inertial, satellite and terrain navigation, and in the final section – an infrared guidance system.
“Ukraine’s security is our security. We will not back down until there is a just and lasting peace,” Burnham said.
According to him, on the 35th anniversary of Ukraine’s Independence, Ukrainians should not doubt the support of Great Britain “today and as long as necessary.”
On July 14, the presidents of Ukraine and France, Volodymyr Zelensky and Emmanuel Macron, announced that France would allow the licensed production of aircraft bombs. AASMand SCALP missiles in Ukraine. The joint statement states that SCALP production should begin as soon as possible and be organized by the end of 2026.
