France's SCALP Missiles to Boost Ukraine's Counterstrike Against Russia

France joined Britain in equipping Ukraine with long-range cruise missiles, allowing Ukrainian troops to hit Russian soldiers and supplies far from the front lines.

As he arrived in Lithuania for the NATO conference, French President Emmanuel Macron committed to providing more military backing for Ukraine's counteroffensive, as reported by Reuters.

According to Macron, the additional shipments of weaponry and equipment are intended to provide Ukrainian troops the ability to strike deeper into hostile territory.

Meanwhile, the precise amount of missiles to be launched was kept a secret. A diplomatic source in France said they were talking to around 50 SCALP missiles made by the European military contractor MBDA.

The amount of SCALP missiles for Ukraine would be enormous, according to French military sources, who also highlighted that the missiles would come from current military supplies.

The SCALP missile supply comes after earlier French assistance to Ukraine, which included the delivery of shoulder-launched anti-aircraft missiles called Mistral and short-range anti-air missiles called Crotale meant to intercept low-flying targets.

Ukraine has requested longer-range missiles for months, but the United States, its leading supplier of military hardware, has yet to agree to provide them. Britain stated in May that it would supply the Storm Shadow, a Franco-British missile made by MBDA.

How Does SCALP Missile Work?

The 1,300kg (2,870lb) SCALP missile is loaded with conventional explosives. It is the longest-range Western weapon yet to be given to Ukraine, according to Al Jazeera.

It is typically fired from aircraft like the British Royal Air Force's Eurofighter Typhoon or the Rafale of France. The missile's capabilities enable targeting targets well beyond the eastern Ukraine areas under Russian occupation.

The SCALP missile's European maker, MBDA, emphasizes that the weapon is intended for preplanned assaults on valuable fixed or stationary targets, such as fortified bunkers and vital infrastructure.

Using inertial navigation, GPS, and terrain reference, the missile plots a low-altitude route to escape detection. SCALP missile has an infrared camera that matches target pictures to enable accurate hits with minor collateral damage.

The SCALP missile's warhead may be set to explode above the target in an airburst immediately after impact or after penetration. Ivan Klyszcz, who serves as a researcher at the International Centre for Defence and Security situated in Estonia, believes these capabilities are essential for Ukraine's military to disrupt Russian logistical and command and control networks.

Ukraine To Get Modified Version

The export versions of the SCALP-EG/Storm Shadow cruise missile have been modified to function at a reduced range of 250 kilometers (155 miles) while having a scope of 560 kilometers (350 miles).

Officials from Ukraine have assured the public that these missiles would only be used on Ukrainian soil and won't penetrate far into Russian territory, per Aerotime Hub.

One of these missiles is believed to have been used in June 2023 to demolish the Chonhar bridge, which connected the Crimean Peninsula to the southern Kherson area under Russian control. The employment of these missiles significantly improves Ukraine's capacity to fend against Russian assault.