The US decision to allow Ukraine to strike Russian territory with long-range ATACMS missiles has reignited debate over the use of European cruise missiles, the Franco-British SCALP-EG/Storm Shadow manufactured by MBDA.
These stealthy air-launched weapons can strike targets over 300 kilometers (185 miles) away and have an explosive payload of 450 kilograms, making them highly desirable for Ukrainian forces that have adapted Soviet-era Su-24 bombers to use them.
“We need to have this long-range capability not only on the occupied territory of Ukraine, but also on the Russian territory, so that Russia is motivated to seek peace,” Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy argued during the 24th Ramstein meeting in September 2024.
Both France and the United Kingdom have committed to supplying SCALP missiles to Ukraine but have refrained from allowing their use against targets within Russia. These two European countries face limitations due to their reliance on US technology.
Although MBDA has recently made efforts to develop the SCALP and Storm Shadow missiles as “ITAR-free” to circumvent US export restrictions—an issue that previously affected Egypt’s Rafale order—the weapons still remain partially dependent on US technology.
Specifically, it appears their Terrain Reference Navigation systems use US-owned classified cartographic data. Without access to this data, the missiles would be forced to rely solely on their inertial navigation systems and GPS for navigation, a significant drawback that would limit their precision and make them more susceptible to Russian electronic warfare systems.
The UK and France under scrutiny at the G20
Reports indicate that the UK and France have been actively lobbying Washington to loosen restrictions, with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer visiting US President Joe Biden in an effort to secure approval in September 2024.
After the announcement regarding ATACMS, Le Figaro briefly reported that restrictions on the SCALP missiles had been lifted but later retracted that information. Meanwhile, The Sun, citing government sources, confirmed that limitations on the Storm Shadow missiles remained in place.
Questioned on the issue on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro, Starmer avoided confirming whether the UK would follow the US’ lead but did not rule out the idea.
“I’m obviously not going to go into operational details, because if we were to do that, the only winner would be Vladimir Putin,” Starmer said.
Instead, he reiterated the UK’s commitment to “double down” on its support for Ukraine, emphasizing the importance of ensuring Ukraine has the necessary tools for as long as needed.
“We need to make sure Ukraine has what is necessary for as long as necessary, because we cannot allow Putin to win this war,” the prime minister concluded.
French President Emmanuel Macron commented on the US decision at the G20 summit, stating that it was “completely justified” and highlighted a “profound change in this conflict that should not be underestimated: the engagement of North Korean troops alongside Russia on European soil.”
“The only power that is escalating this conflict today is Russia,” he concluded
In May 2024, Macron stated his readiness to allow Ukraine to use French-supplied long-range weapons to strike military targets within Russia.
On November 18, 2024, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot reaffirmed this position during a meeting between EU foreign ministers in Brussels.
“You heard President Macron [in May 2024], where we openly said that it was an option we were taking into consideration,” Barrot said. “So, nothing new under the sun.”
It is uncertain whether the restrictions on the SCALP-EG/Storm Shadow missiles have been lifted. However, France and the United Kingdom will likely choose to remain silent for as long as they can.
This approach of “strategic ambiguity,” which was previously advocated by Macron when dealing with Moscow, would allow Ukraine to use the missiles effectively before Russia has the chance to adapt its defenses and move crucial targets out of the missiles’ range.