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Zelenskyy: UK, France Clear Way for Ukraine's SCALP Missile Output
(MENAFN) President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced Tuesday that Britain has given Ukraine the green light to begin producing long-range SCALP missiles domestically, marking a significant boost to Kyiv's defense manufacturing ambitions.
Speaking at a joint press conference in Kyiv with Estonian President Alar Karis, Zelenskyy said France had separately confirmed it was lifting restrictions and licensing barriers tied to the weapons system.
"We received confirmation from the UK regarding the production of long-range SCALP missiles. Before that, we spoke with (French) President (Emmanuel) Macron, and he confirmed the unlocking of the SCALPs and the license. We will act," he said.
The announcement follows a decision Britain disclosed Monday allowing defense contractor MBDA to share classified technical data on British-made SCALP components with Ukraine — a move that would let Kyiv build its own assembly lines for the weapon.
SCALP, the French name for the missile Britain calls Storm Shadow, is a jointly developed French-British long-range cruise missile capable of striking targets more than 250 kilometers (155 miles) away.
Zelenskyy called the development "positive" and "strong" but did not offer a timeline for when domestic production might begin.
He also revealed that Ukraine anticipates finalizing a schedule within seven to 10 days for FREYJA, a joint European-Ukrainian initiative to build an integrated anti-ballistic missile defense system. That schedule, he said, would map out upcoming meetings, flag potential bottlenecks, and identify which countries or companies are responsible for resolving them.
FREYJA was launched in July under a 10-nation Integrated Anti-Ballistic Missile Coalition that includes Ukraine, Britain, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden and Denmark. Under the program, Ukraine is expected to develop the interceptor missile and its launcher while European partners supply radars, sensors and other essential hardware. Kyiv has set a goal of fielding a working prototype by mid-2027.
On the funding front, Zelenskyy said Norway has pledged $9 billion in support for Ukraine in 2027 and may also help bankroll a dedicated office for the FREYJA initiative. Norway's government has independently confirmed that its 2027 contribution under the Nansen program will hold steady at roughly the same $9 billion level provided this year.
Zelenskyy said Ukraine has also secured commitments for additional Crotale air defense systems and accompanying missiles, along with AIM missiles used to shoot down incoming Russian projectiles. He said Ukraine had received more Patriot missiles as well, though he declined to specify quantities or which countries supplied them.
Despite the fresh commitments, Zelenskyy acknowledged Ukraine is confronting a $27 billion shortfall in its defense budget and will need roughly $10 billion to guarantee adequate weapons stockpiles heading into 2027.
The Kremlin has sharply criticized Western military support for Ukraine's missile program. Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Monday that Britain's move to share technical details on SCALP components amounted to pouring "fuel to the fire," adding that Russia was working to locate and destroy Ukraine's missile-production facilities.
Speaking at a joint press conference in Kyiv with Estonian President Alar Karis, Zelenskyy said France had separately confirmed it was lifting restrictions and licensing barriers tied to the weapons system.
"We received confirmation from the UK regarding the production of long-range SCALP missiles. Before that, we spoke with (French) President (Emmanuel) Macron, and he confirmed the unlocking of the SCALPs and the license. We will act," he said.
The announcement follows a decision Britain disclosed Monday allowing defense contractor MBDA to share classified technical data on British-made SCALP components with Ukraine — a move that would let Kyiv build its own assembly lines for the weapon.
SCALP, the French name for the missile Britain calls Storm Shadow, is a jointly developed French-British long-range cruise missile capable of striking targets more than 250 kilometers (155 miles) away.
Zelenskyy called the development "positive" and "strong" but did not offer a timeline for when domestic production might begin.
He also revealed that Ukraine anticipates finalizing a schedule within seven to 10 days for FREYJA, a joint European-Ukrainian initiative to build an integrated anti-ballistic missile defense system. That schedule, he said, would map out upcoming meetings, flag potential bottlenecks, and identify which countries or companies are responsible for resolving them.
FREYJA was launched in July under a 10-nation Integrated Anti-Ballistic Missile Coalition that includes Ukraine, Britain, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden and Denmark. Under the program, Ukraine is expected to develop the interceptor missile and its launcher while European partners supply radars, sensors and other essential hardware. Kyiv has set a goal of fielding a working prototype by mid-2027.
On the funding front, Zelenskyy said Norway has pledged $9 billion in support for Ukraine in 2027 and may also help bankroll a dedicated office for the FREYJA initiative. Norway's government has independently confirmed that its 2027 contribution under the Nansen program will hold steady at roughly the same $9 billion level provided this year.
Zelenskyy said Ukraine has also secured commitments for additional Crotale air defense systems and accompanying missiles, along with AIM missiles used to shoot down incoming Russian projectiles. He said Ukraine had received more Patriot missiles as well, though he declined to specify quantities or which countries supplied them.
Despite the fresh commitments, Zelenskyy acknowledged Ukraine is confronting a $27 billion shortfall in its defense budget and will need roughly $10 billion to guarantee adequate weapons stockpiles heading into 2027.
The Kremlin has sharply criticized Western military support for Ukraine's missile program. Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Monday that Britain's move to share technical details on SCALP components amounted to pouring "fuel to the fire," adding that Russia was working to locate and destroy Ukraine's missile-production facilities.
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