U.K. will help Ukraine make long-range missiles by sharing classified tech information
British Prime Minister Andy Burnham announced that the U.K. will share classified technical information with Ukraine to facilitate the domestic assembly of long-range SCALP missiles. While this move aims to bolster Ukraine's defense capabilities, experts note that the impact will depend on the speed of establishing local production lines.
Why it matters
This development marks a significant escalation in military cooperation, potentially allowing Ukraine to sustain its defense efforts against Russia with locally produced high-precision weaponry.
British Prime Minister Andy Burnham said Monday (August 24, 2026) that the U.K. will help Ukraine make its own long-range missiles by sharing classified technical information for British components.
Mr. Burnham, who was in Kyiv alongside other international leaders for Ukraine's Independence Day, said defence firm MBDA will release details on U.K.-made parts for the SCALP missile to Ukraine to help the country assemble the weapons.
The SCALP missile is the French-produced version of the U.K.'s Storm Shadow, an air-launched, high-precision missile with a range of more than 250 kilometres. Both use shared French and British technology.
Measuring 5.1 metres, the missile is hard to detect and is designed to hit fixed or stationary targets such as hardened bunkers and key infrastructure, according to MBDA. The defence firm says the missile uses an advanced navigation system and is exceptionally accurate.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in