Archive · 25 Aug 2026
UK Shares Missile Technology as Ukraine Pursues Long-Range Weapons
The United Kingdom says it will help Ukraine build long-range missiles.
It will share secret information about British parts used in the SCALP missile.
SCALP missiles can fly more than 250 kilometers and hit important targets accurately.
Ukraine is also discussing missile assembly with France.
Experts say the missiles will probably not be ready soon.
They may not help Ukraine during the coming winter.
Ukraine needs more air-defense systems to protect against Russian ballistic missiles.
Russia says Britain is making the war worse, but Britain rejects that accusation.
The United Kingdom will share classified information on British-made components to help Ukraine assemble SCALP missiles.
SCALP is an air-launched, precision-guided missile with a range exceeding 250 kilometers.
French and Ukrainian plans for domestic missile assembly are still at an uncertain stage.
Experts say Ukrainian-assembled missiles are unlikely to become operational before next year at the earliest.
The United Kingdom and Ukraine say the weapons could strengthen deep-strike capabilities, while Russia says the move intensifies the war.
- Who
- The United Kingdom, Ukraine, France, MBDA, and Russian officials are involved; Prime Minister Andy Burnham announced the British assistance.
- What
- The United Kingdom will share classified technical information to help Ukraine produce and assemble long-range SCALP missiles.
- When
- The announcement was made on Monday; experts said the missiles may not be operational until next year at the earliest.
- Where
- The announcement was made in Kyiv, Ukraine, during Ukraine’s Independence Day events.
- Why
- The assistance is intended to give Ukraine a deep-strike capability against targets such as Russian launch sites and hardened infrastructure.
United Kingdom and Ukraine’s position
Russia’s position
Purpose of the missile assistance
United Kingdom and Ukraine’s position
The United Kingdom and Ukrainian military experts describe the program as a way to build Ukraine’s deep-strike capability and potentially attack Russian sites used to launch ballistic missiles.
Russia’s position
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov accused the United Kingdom of “fanning the flame” of the war on Ukraine’s side.
Urgency of the program
United Kingdom and Ukraine’s position
British and Ukrainian officials present domestic missile production as a way to strengthen Ukraine’s ability to strike beyond the front lines, while experts acknowledge it will take time.
Russia’s position
The Russian criticism frames the technology transfer as further foreign involvement in the conflict rather than as a defensive industrial project.
Military priorities
United Kingdom and Ukraine’s position
Experts say SCALP missiles could complement drones because they are faster, harder to detect, and better suited to penetrating hardened or buried targets.
Russia’s position
Experts also say the program does not address Ukraine’s most immediate need for protection from Russian ballistic missile attacks, including a shortage of Patriot systems.
- Missile
- SCALP, the French-produced version of the United Kingdom’s Storm Shadow
- Range
- More than 250 kilometers, or about 155 miles
- Launch method
- Air-launched
- Purpose
- Designed to strike fixed or stationary targets, including hardened bunkers and key infrastructure
- British assistance
- Sharing classified details about United Kingdom-made missile components
- Expected timing
- Experts say operational Ukrainian-assembled missiles are unlikely before next year at the earliest
- Ukraine’s other need
- President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukraine is receiving fewer Patriot defense systems as Russian ballistic attacks increase