403
Sorry!!
Error! We're sorry, but the page you were looking for doesn't exist.
Ukraine Cleared to Build SCALP Missiles at Home
(MENAFN) Ukraine has cleared a major hurdle toward building its own long-range strike weapons, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy revealed Tuesday, after Britain signed off on domestic production of SCALP cruise missiles.
The announcement came during a joint appearance in Kyiv with Estonian President Alar Karis, where Zelenskyy also disclosed that France had agreed to remove licensing restrictions blocking the project.
"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," Zelenskyy said.
The breakthrough builds on a decision London announced Monday, when it authorized defense manufacturer MBDA to hand over classified specifications for British-made SCALP parts — clearing the way for Ukraine to set up its own assembly operations for the missile.
Known as Storm Shadow in Britain and SCALP in France, the jointly built cruise missile can hit targets beyond 250 kilometers (155 miles) away.
While praising the decision as "positive" and "strong," Zelenskyy stopped short of naming a start date for manufacturing on Ukrainian soil.
Separately, he said a detailed rollout plan for FREYJA — a multinational missile-defense initiative — should be ready within seven to 10 days. That plan, according to Zelenskyy, will lay out upcoming coordination meetings, flag obstacles standing in the way, and specify which governments or firms are tasked with clearing them.
FREYJA, unveiled in July, brings together 10 nations — Ukraine, Britain, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden and Denmark — under a coalition focused on building an integrated anti-ballistic shield. Ukraine is tasked with developing the interceptor missile and launch system, while its European allies supply radar, sensor and other supporting technology. Officials in Kyiv are targeting mid-2027 for a functioning prototype.
On financing, Zelenskyy said Norway has locked in $9 billion in support for Ukraine for 2027 and signaled willingness to help fund a dedicated administrative office for the FREYJA program. Norway's government confirmed separately that its 2027 contribution through the Nansen initiative would hold at roughly $9 billion — matching this year's level.
Zelenskyy further disclosed that Ukraine has secured pledges for more Crotale air-defense batteries and missiles, plus AIM interceptor missiles designed to bring down Russian strikes. Additional Patriot missiles have also arrived, he said, though he withheld details on volume or origin.
Even with the fresh pledges, Zelenskyy flagged a steep $27 billion gap in Ukraine's defense budget, warning that roughly $10 billion more is needed just to keep weapons stocked as 2027 begins.
Moscow wasted no time condemning the Western moves. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Monday that Britain's decision to release technical data on SCALP parts was akin to pouring "fuel to the fire," and reiterated that Russia intends to track down and destroy Ukraine's missile-manufacturing sites.
The announcement came during a joint appearance in Kyiv with Estonian President Alar Karis, where Zelenskyy also disclosed that France had agreed to remove licensing restrictions blocking the project.
"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," Zelenskyy said.
The breakthrough builds on a decision London announced Monday, when it authorized defense manufacturer MBDA to hand over classified specifications for British-made SCALP parts — clearing the way for Ukraine to set up its own assembly operations for the missile.
Known as Storm Shadow in Britain and SCALP in France, the jointly built cruise missile can hit targets beyond 250 kilometers (155 miles) away.
While praising the decision as "positive" and "strong," Zelenskyy stopped short of naming a start date for manufacturing on Ukrainian soil.
Separately, he said a detailed rollout plan for FREYJA — a multinational missile-defense initiative — should be ready within seven to 10 days. That plan, according to Zelenskyy, will lay out upcoming coordination meetings, flag obstacles standing in the way, and specify which governments or firms are tasked with clearing them.
FREYJA, unveiled in July, brings together 10 nations — Ukraine, Britain, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden and Denmark — under a coalition focused on building an integrated anti-ballistic shield. Ukraine is tasked with developing the interceptor missile and launch system, while its European allies supply radar, sensor and other supporting technology. Officials in Kyiv are targeting mid-2027 for a functioning prototype.
On financing, Zelenskyy said Norway has locked in $9 billion in support for Ukraine for 2027 and signaled willingness to help fund a dedicated administrative office for the FREYJA program. Norway's government confirmed separately that its 2027 contribution through the Nansen initiative would hold at roughly $9 billion — matching this year's level.
Zelenskyy further disclosed that Ukraine has secured pledges for more Crotale air-defense batteries and missiles, plus AIM interceptor missiles designed to bring down Russian strikes. Additional Patriot missiles have also arrived, he said, though he withheld details on volume or origin.
Even with the fresh pledges, Zelenskyy flagged a steep $27 billion gap in Ukraine's defense budget, warning that roughly $10 billion more is needed just to keep weapons stocked as 2027 begins.
Moscow wasted no time condemning the Western moves. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Monday that Britain's decision to release technical data on SCALP parts was akin to pouring "fuel to the fire," and reiterated that Russia intends to track down and destroy Ukraine's missile-manufacturing sites.
Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the
information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any
responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos,
licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information
contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues
related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.
Comments
No comment