France orders production of SCALP cruise missiles for 2025
8 December, 2024 Storm Shadow/SCALP-EG cruise missile. Photo credits: MBDA In France, the Senate announced plans for ammunition orders, including SCALP cruise missiles.
The Senate stated that in 2025, EUR1.9 billion will be spent on ammunition orders. "This is EUR400 million more than in 2024, which is an increase of +27%," the Senate pointed out. The list includes:
- AASM bombs;
- Meteor air-to-air missiles;
- Torpedoes;
- Mistral anti-aircraft missiles;
- Aster anti-aircraft missiles;
- SCALP cruise missiles;
- Exocet anti-ship missiles;
- 155-mm artillery shells.
This air-launched cruise missile with a range of up to 400 km is a joint development of the United Kingdom (Storm Shadow) and France (SCALP-EG).
Illustration of the SCALP EG missile.
Photo credits: Akela Freedom
The production is executed by the European consortium MBDA. The 5.1-meter-long missile has a flight weight of up to 1,300 kg and a warhead weight of 450 kg. The Ukrainian Air Force uses these missiles to strike the Russian Black Sea Fleet and other military facilities.
For this purpose, Ukrainian Su-24M/MR bombers have been adapted to use these long-range missiles.
SCALP EG missile under the wing of the Ukrainian Su-24M bomber. August 2023. Frame from the Ihor Smilyanskyi`s video
The UK also provided similar air-launched cruise missiles to Ukraine.
In November, British Storm Shadow missiles hit a command post near the village of Maryino in the Kursk region.
Explosion after a Storm Shadow cruise missile hits a Russian command post near the village of Maryino in the Kursk region. November 20, 2024, Russia. Footage from the video of the 413th Separate Battalion of Unmanned Systems "Raid"
These were the first strikes on military facilities in Russia, using Storm Shadow missiles provided by the UK.
Later, it was reported that Paris also allowed Ukraine to hit Russia with French missiles.