Ukraine conflict: UK to allow Ukrainian SCALP EG production

The UK is to allow the release of classified information pertaining to the Storm Shadow/SCALP EG to enable domestic production of the cruise missile by Ukraine. (Janes/Gareth Jennings)

The United Kingdom is to allow Ukraine to domestically build MBDA Système de Croisière Autonome à Longue Portée - Emploi Général (SCALP EG) cruise missiles, with UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham announcing the release of related classified information during a visit to Kyiv on 24 August 2026.

Announced during Prime Minister Burnham's first visit to the country on Ukraine's Independence Day, the decision to release classified information on UK components will enable Ukrainian production of the French-made SCALP EG version of the British-made Storm Shadow long-range missile.

“To underline the strength of this [UK] commitment [to Ukraine], the Prime Minister … has agreed that defence firm MBDA can release classified information on UK components for the long-range missile, SCALP, as Ukraine and France look to establish local assembly lines in Ukraine. The missile is the French-produced version of the UK's Storm Shadow, with both using shared French and British technology,” the UK government said.

As noted in the announcement, the move follows the UK first gifting Storm Shadow missiles to Ukraine in 2023 (France gifted SCALP EG missiles at about the same time), and will allow the French and Ukrainians to move forward with the Ukrainian assembly of the missile. It also complements the major UK effort to rapidly develop low-cost advanced long-range strike weapons for Ukraine through Project Brakestop.

In Ukrainian service, the air-launched SCALP EG/Storm Shadow can be carried by the Sukhoi Su-24 ‘Fencer' and/or Mirage 2000 combat aircraft, while there have been unconfirmed reports that they are carried by the MiG-29 ‘Fulcrum' and Sukhoi Su-27 ‘Flanker' also.

As noted by