PARIS – France is set to resume production of its formidable SCALP cruise missiles in 2025, marking the first new order in 15 years for the long-range precision weapon. The decision comes as global demand for advanced munitions surges, particularly in the wake of their proven effectiveness in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
French Minister of the Armed Forces Sébastien Lecornu announced the restart of production during a joint visit with UK Defence Secretary John Healey to the MBDA factory in Stevenage, UK, where the Anglo-French missiles are manufactured. The SCALP, known as Storm Shadow in the UK, has been a critical asset for Ukrainian forces, demonstrating its capability to strike high-value, hardened targets deep behind enemy lines.
“Production of SCALP missiles to equip our forces will resume in 2025, 15 years after our last order,” Lecornu stated, emphasizing the missile’s decisive role in modern, high-intensity combat operations. He highlighted MBDA, the joint venture between France, the UK, Italy, and Germany that produces the missile, as a “symbol of Europe’s leading defense industry.”
The hiatus in production, which lasted over a decade, has left stockpiles diminished in both France and the UK, particularly after significant transfers to Ukraine. The renewed manufacturing effort aims to replenish these inventories and ensure strategic readiness. While Lecornu did not explicitly confirm future recipients of the newly produced missiles, the critical role they have played in Ukraine suggests that further deliveries to Kyiv remain a strong possibility.
The SCALP/Storm Shadow is an air-launched cruise missile designed to penetrate robust air defenses and deliver a powerful warhead against fortified targets such as command bunkers, airfields, and infrastructure. It boasts a range exceeding 250 km in its export version, with domestic variants capable of reaching up to 560 km.
This strategic move by France and its allies underscores a broader European push to revitalize their defense industrial base and enhance their capabilities in response to evolving geopolitical challenges. The resumption of SCALP production is a testament to the missile’s enduring relevance and its continued importance in modern military arsenals.
