France to deliver 40 SCALP long-range cruise missiles to Ukraine

Europe, News January 18, 2024 , by IRIA No Comments

France has announced the delivery of 40 units of its SCALP long-range cruise missiles as well as hundreds of bombs as Kyiv fights the Russian invasion. The announcement was made by French President Emmanuel Macron on January 17, 2023.

While speaking to the reporters in a two-hour-long news conference, the French President unveiled his country’s plans to provide additional military support to Kyiv. Macron said that Europe must “not let Russia win.”

“Letting Russia win would mean accepting that international law is not respected,” he said. Macron also announced that he is planning to visit Kyiv in February to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and enhance bilateral security ties between the two countries.

“We will basically continue to help Ukraine in its needs, for training, to hold on to the front, and to defend its skies,” Macron said. “With the deliveries I mentioned, with the agreements we’re finalizing.”

Ukraine-France security pact

Macron announced that France is actively engaged in crafting a new bilateral security agreement with Ukraine, similar to the pact established between Kyiv and London. The formal unveiling of this agreement is expected during his upcoming visit next month.

French SCALP (Storm Shadow) long-range cruise missile — *^{The Storm Shadow cruise missile is on display during the Paris Air Show in Le Bourget, France on June 19, 2023. (Image Credit AP/Lewis Joly)}*

Last week in Kyiv, an agreement on security cooperation was signed between UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. This pact solidifies the UK’s commitment to consult with Ukraine in the unfortunate event of any future aggression by Russia. Furthermore, the agreement pledges the UK to offer “swift and sustained” assistance for Ukraine’s defense. Sunak also announced a substantial military funding of $3.2 billion earmarked for Ukraine in the upcoming financial year of 2024-2025.

Missile deliveries

So far, France has delivered one contingent of SCALP long-range missiles back in the summer of 2023. SCALP long-range strike missile, with a range of 205 kilometers, is capable of striking targets far into the country’s Russian-occupied east, well behind front lines that have remained relatively unchanged for months.

Jointly produced by the UK and France, the SCALP missile’s British variant is known as the Strom Shadow missile and it was delivered to Ukraine last year. It is an advanced navigation system using INS (inertial navigation system), GPS, and terrain referencing that allows for highly precise strikes. The conventionally armed missile is designed for pre-planned attacks on high-value stationary targets like bunkers and infrastructure.

*^{Storm Shadow characteristics. (Image Credit: MBDA)}*

The missile has been integrated into several aircraft, including the Eurofighter Typhoon, Rafale, Mirage 2000, and Tornado, and is currently in use by the UK, France, Italy, and other countries. The British variant of the Storm Shadow missiles can be fired from an aircraft while French variants can be launched from ships and submarines. The missiles were used by the British and French air forces in the Gulf, Iraq, and Libya.