France to deliver new batch of long-range SCALP missiles to Ukraine
Photo: French Minister of the Armed Forces Sébastien Lecornu (Getty Images)
France will provide Ukraine with a new batch of long-range SCALP missiles. The Ministry of Defense is preparing the shipment, says French Minister of the Armed Forces Sébastien Lecornu in an interview with Le Journal du Dimanche.
He notes that partners should maintain assistance to Ukraine at a stable level, as this will also allow the Ukrainian authorities to consider political decisions when they decide to do so.
“Military support is important, and even when the war is over, the Ukrainian army will need to continue to be strengthened,” Lecornu said.
France will also continue the training program for 2,000 Ukrainian soldiers, who are trained on French equipment.
The minister predicts that Russia's strikes deep into Ukraine's territory may intensify in the winter. France will provide Ukraine with portable Mistral anti-aircraft missile systems and SCALP missiles.
“To allow Ukraine to strike behind the front line, in recent days I have signed a new transfer of about 10 SCALP missiles, as promised by the French President to Volodymyr Zelenskyy,” the minister said.
SCALP is the French version of the Storm Shadow cruise missile, which is a joint development of Britain and France. The French and British versions of the missile are almost identical. The only differences are in the software and carrier aircraft.
The range of SCALP missiles is 560 kilometers. But there is an export version with a reduced range of 290 km and a smaller warhead.
French assistance
France is one of Ukraine's main partners. Paris has provided the Ukrainian army with military assistance, including artillery systems, armored vehicles, shells, missiles, air defense systems, and other weapons.
France also supports Ukraine politically and advocates for continued integration into the EU and NATO.
French President Emmanuel Macron was the first to offer to send military instructors to Ukraine for training.
