France releases military construction plans to Ukraine
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France has handed over blueprints for the Scalp-EG cruise missile to Ukraine. The agreement allows production in the country and opens up further licenses.
France has handed over the blueprints for its Scalp-EG cruise missile to Ukraine as part of a defense deal. The agreement gives Kiev the right to produce the weapon – essentially the same hard-to-detect cruise missile as Britain’s Storm Shadow – in factories in the war-torn country. It also paves the way for Ukrainian defense manufacturers to produce Aster anti-aircraft missiles and precision-guided air-to-surface bombs of the type Armenment Air-Sol Modulaire (AASM).
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This article by Joe Barnes was produced in collaboration with telegraph.co.uk.
The package also includes an order for 16 new French-made Rafale fighter jets and four Samp/T anti-aircraft batteries, making Ukraine the first country to use the Franco-Italian system in combat. France and Italy also approved the license production of Aster-30 interceptor missiles in Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who was in Paris to sign the agreement, said it reflected “France’s true leadership in defense cooperation with Ukraine in the interests of all of Europe.”
Zelensky praises “leadership role”: Paris puts together an arms package
The Franco-Ukrainian agreement raises the question of whether Britain has agreed to domestic production of the Storm Shadow/Scalp missiles. At the same time, however, it marks another success for the emerging Ukrainian defense industry. Zelensky sealed the deal just days after Donald Trump pledged to allow Ukraine to produce PAC-3 interceptor missiles for the American Patriot air defense system. The Rafale jets are expected to enter Ukrainian airspace in 2028, although pilots will need extensive training to use them effectively.
No specific dates were given as to when the first French weapons should leave the Ukrainian production lines. However, the agreement states: “France authorizes the licensed production of AASM bombs and Scalp missiles in Ukraine before the end of 2026 and as early as possible.” Given the complexity of setting up factories, it is more likely that the first missiles and bombs will only be manufactured after a possible peace agreement and will either remain in the country as a security guarantee or be sold back into European stocks.
Anti-aircraft interceptor missiles and long-range precision weapons such as Storm Shadow or Scalp are becoming increasingly important to Ukraine’s war strategy, which aims to hit targets deep inside Russia to increase pressure on Vladimir Putin. Earlier this year, Ukraine used British Storm Shadow missiles to destroy one of Russia’s leading defense factories, while missiles and drones hit dozens of Russian oil facilities. At the same time, however, Kiev also needs anti-aircraft missiles to protect its cities and energy infrastructure from devastating Russian missile attacks before winter.
Putin’s leverage and the Ukrainian response
The long-range bombing is seen as Putin’s last remaining means of leverage against Kiev in possible peace talks, as Russian territorial gains on the front have largely come to a halt. Ukraine is launching its own long-range strikes with domestically produced drones to destroy Russian oil production and using Western-supplied missiles and bombs to target arms sites and fortified bunkers behind the front line.