United to win: France to provide Ukraine with long-range SCALP missiles

France has promised to supply Ukraine with 40 powerful SCALP cruise missiles. These missiles have already proven to be effective during the war. Additionally, this delivery will not deplete France's own supply of strategic missiles.

RFI published an investigation into the French method of supplying SCALP missiles to Ukrainian troops.

According to the investigation, French authorities discovered multiple batches of "SCALP" cruise missiles stored in watertight packages known as cocoons. These cocoons are used to shield and maintain equipment for potential future use.

Per the experts' decision, they merged two reserve types. One comprised older yet functional rockets, while the other comprised "cocoons" housing non-operational missiles. These missiles had been stripped of parts to maintain the working conditions of other SCALPs deployed in Air Force squadrons.

Thus, the French started a program to improve old missiles called "Chrysalide" [Chrysalide is the initial stage of turning a caterpillar into a butterfly – ed.].

According to journalists, all these components should return to the MBDA factories in the city of Bourges and undergo modernization according to an accelerated procedure.

"According to a source close to the case, this is a highly cost-effective approach, as the SCALPs in the cocoons had to be 'disposed of' anyway," the investigators say. So, they will be delivered to Ukraine at a quarter of the cost of a new missile.

The French government fully finances the project through aid funds for Ukraine. Most importantly, this scheme did not in any way affect the needs of the French armed forces.

There are also "export" versions of the SCALP missiles, but they cannot be programmed using French computers. Missiles for Ukraine must be compatible with the training system that Paris provided to Kyiv.

At a press conference in January, French President Emmanuel Macron said that about 40 long-range SCALP missiles and several hundred bombs would be delivered to Ukraine in the coming weeks.

This is the second time that Paris has provided such weapons to Ukrainian troops. The first batch was used mainly in the Black Sea. Thus, in September, as a result of a powerful missile attack, two ships in the dry dock in the port of Sevastopol were destroyed.

As Rubryka wrote, on July 11, Macron announced the delivery of long-range missiles to Ukraine's armed forces. According to him, "it is important to send a signal of support for Ukraine, of NATO unity." Specifically, the missiles in question were the Storm Shadow/SCALP.

Then Ukraine promised not to strike with them on Russian territory.

For reference:

The SCALP missile is the French version of the British Storm Shadow. This long-range weapon can hit targets at a distance of up to 500 km.

The missiles fly at a rate of over 1000 km/h, reaching an altitude of 30 kilometers. They are powerful enough to pierce through layers of concrete, revealing a space where a 450-kilogram explosive will be set off.

It should be noted that Great Britain supplied Ukraine with Storm Shadow cruise missiles, giving the soldiers of Ukraine's armed forces a new long-range strike potential on the eve of the long-awaited counteroffensive of Ukrainian troops.

SCALP missiles were also used to destroy the main logistical facilities that provided the Russian front.