The extension of the manufacturing will permit the 2 international locations to restock the Storm Shadow/SCALP stockpiles because the work on the next-generation cruise missile.
The UK and France introduced on Jul. 9, 2025 that the manufacturing of the Storm Shadow/SCALP-EG ALCM (Air-Launched Cruise Missile) will resume in 2025. The weapon, utilized by each the UK’s RAF (Royal Air Drive) and France’s FASF (French Air and Area Drive), has been within the highlight because it continues to see motion in Ukraine, utilized by the nation’s Su-24 Fencers.
The U.Okay. Ministry of Protection additionally talked about a “next-gen cruise missile,” probably referring to the successor to the Storm Shadow, as French minister for the armed forces Sébastien Lecornu and British MP John Healy visited MBDA UK’s facility in Stevenage, within the south of the nation, the place the missile is produced.
The choice is geared toward each replenishing the 2 international locations’ shares after deliveries to Ukraine and reviving their economies by protection industrial manufacturing. The transfer additionally comes amid proactive British, French and German postures in strengthening NATO’s japanese flank earlier than Russia.
Lecornu talked about how the final order for the weapon was 15 years in the past. Unofficial assessments put Rome’s, London’s and Paris’ Storm Shadow/SCAP-EG shares within the larger a whole bunch/few 1000’s, nevertheless they’re now presumed to be considerably depleted after the provision to Ukraine.
Lecornu mentioned on X: “Equipped to Ukraine, the Franco-British SCALP-EG/Storm Shadow missile has demonstrated its effectiveness in trendy high-intensity fight, in decisive conditions. As a three way partnership between France, the UK, Italy and Germany, MBDA is an emblem of Europe’s main protection trade.” SCALP is the French designation for the missile.
pic.twitter.com/04tXaDpNCT
— OSINTtechnical (@Osinttechnical) July 10, 2025
The U.Okay. MoD additionally confused upon how “from Storm Shadow to next-gen cruise missiles, the UK and France are strengthening defence ties, supporting British jobs and our shared safety.” Healy additional mentioned that the “two nations assist maintain one another secure, drive financial development and ship safety for Europe.”
From Storm Shadow to next-gen cruise missiles, the UK and France are strengthening defence ties, supporting British jobs and our shared safety.
Yesterday at @MBDA_UK Stevenage, @JohnHealey_MP and French Minister @SebLecornu noticed this very important industrial partnership in motion. pic.twitter.com/GR4Kr46mnt
— Ministry of Defence 🇬🇧 (@DefenceHQ) July 10, 2025
Storm Shadow/SCALP-EG ALCM
The official photographs confirmed two practically completed Storm Shadow/SCALP-EG on the meeting bays, with some panels lacking, pending ultimate meeting, integration and testing. We additionally see red-colored caps overlaying the missiles’ nostril part, which is reported to function a DSMAC (Digital Scene Matching Space Correlator) sensor activated through the assault run’s terminal section.
The weapon is utilized by numerous launch platforms, just like the Mirage 2000-5, Rafale, the Eurofighter Hurricane, and the Twister IDS operated by France, U.Okay. and Italy. The stealthy missile weighs 1,300 kg, is over 5 meters in size and is particularly designed for putting closely fortified and priceless targets from stand-off distance, holding plane and crews out of hurt’s method.
The Storm Shadow was first utilized in fight through the 2011 Libya Air Battle by RAF and Italian Twister jets. As per publicly out there data, the Storm Shadow is provided with a 450 kg typical warhead and may contact ranges in extra of 250 km.
The Hurricane used the missile operationally for the primary time when Royal Air Drive (RAF) jets fired it at Islamic State targets in Iraq on Mar. 15, 2021. The plane have been working from RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus in help of Operation Shader.
The Storm Shadow can also be in service with the Italian Air Drive (Aeronautica Militare), and was built-in onto the Ukrainian Air Drive’s Soviet-era Su-24 Fencer floor assault plane.
Relating to the next-gen cruise missile talked about by the British MoD, the long run weapon may very well be the dual-role Future Cruise/Anti-Ship Weapon (FC/ASW) program that has appeared in official idea renditions since 2023.
Undertaking strikes forward!@MBDAGroup “welcomes the Italian Authorities’s intent to affix France and the UK within the Future Cruise / Anti-Ship Weapon (FC/ASW) programme”
📷 Vayu and MBDA pic.twitter.com/mY7EkRqYm4
— Vayu Aerospace Overview (@ReviewVayu) June 27, 2023
Reviving British, European defence trade
An announcement by the U.Okay. authorities a day previous to Lecornu and Healey’s go to to Stevenage confused upon the broader ‘Crew UK’ push, with protection industrial manufacturing turning into the bedrock of job creation and eco-industrial revival. Suggestions of the Defence and Financial Progress Taskforce put the determine at 150,000 new jobs and a pair of.7% of the GDP by 2027 by elevated defence spending.
The Aviationist additionally reported how elements from former RAF Twister GR4s have been floor down and transformed into 3D printable materials to be used within the sixth technology Tempest manned fighter, underneath the GCAP (World Fight Air Program). The initiative permits the U.Okay. to fabricate “larger high quality” elements than imported ones, whereas additionally supporting Britain’s home protection and aerospace trade.
As we speak my buddy @SebLecornu and I reaffirmed the enduring and very important defence partnership the UK and France share.
Our two nations assist maintain one another secure, drive financial development and ship safety for Europe.
That partnership will solely develop stronger. 🇬🇧🇫🇷
— John Healey (@JohnHealey_MP) July 9, 2025
