London is set to hand Ukraine classified information on British components used in the Storm Shadow/Scalp long-range missile, a move expected to clear the way for France and Ukraine to pursue local production of the weapon. The Kremlin has condemned the decision, accusing Britain of obstructing efforts towards a peace settlement.British prime minister Andy Burnham arrived in Kyiv on Monday, his first overseas trip since taking office, as Ukraine marked its Independence Day. He was expected to meet president Volodymyr Zelenskyy and co-chair a meeting of the so-called coalition of the willing alongside other international leaders.European council president Antonio Costa, Moldovan president Maia Sandu, Luxembourg prime minister Luc Frieden and Estonian president Alar Karis were also in Kyiv.Burnham was expected to announce that the UK Government had agreed to allow defence company MBDA to release classified information relating to British components used in the Scalp long-range missile, according to his office.The move is intended to enable France and Ukraine to advance plans for local assembly and production of the missile in Ukraine. Scalp is the French version of Britain’s Storm Shadow, with the two systems incorporating shared French and British technology.“Ukraine’s security is our security,” Burnham said in a statement, adding that Britain would stand by Ukraine “for as long as it takes”.The development comes as Britain continues to expand its military and diplomatic support for Ukraine. London was the first country to announce plans to supply Kyiv with Western-made battle tanks and long-range cruise missiles following Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022.Britain has pledged more than £25 billion ($34 billion) in military and civilian support to Ukraine, according to the information provided by Downing Street.
What is Storm Shadow?
Storm Shadow/Scalp is an air-launched, long-range, conventionally armed deep-strike missile designed for pre-planned attacks against high-value fixed or stationary targets, including hardened bunkers and key infrastructure.The missile weighs about 1,300kg and is 5.10 metres long. It is designed for long-range deep-strike missions and can be operated day and night in all weather conditions.Its navigation system combines inertial navigation, GPS and terrain referencing. After launch, the missile descends to a terrain-hugging altitude intended to reduce the chances of detection.As it approaches its target, an onboard infrared seeker uses the stored target image to guide the final phase of the strike.The system is designed for high survivability through long stand-off range and low observability, while its mission-planning and navigation systems are intended to help it avoid enemy ground-based air defences.The missile’s terminal guidance uses an imaging infrared seeker and automatic target recognition for precision. Its warhead incorporates a precursor charge and a penetrator, with detonation options including airburst, impact and penetration modes.Storm Shadow/Scalp can be integrated with aircraft including the Eurofighter Typhoon, Rafale, Mirage 2000 and Tornado. It is in service with the Royal Air Force, French Air Force, Italian Air Force and several export customers, and has seen operational use in Iraq, Libya and Syria.
Why is Britain sharing the technology?
The immediate purpose of the British decision is to allow the release of information on British-made components incorporated into Scalp missiles. The initiative would form part of wider efforts to increase Ukraine’s domestic defence production and reduce its reliance on supplies manufactured outside the country. The missiles are capable of carrying out strikes deep within Russia.
Kremlin: Britain is ‘adding fuel to the fire’
Moscow reacted sharply to the announcement. The Kremlin said Britain’s decision to provide Ukraine with classified information on British-made components used in Scalp long-range cruise missiles would “add fuel to the fire” and said the move was viewed by Moscow “extremely negatively”.Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov accused Britain of working against efforts to reach a peace settlement.“Britain is involved in this war on the side of the Kyiv regime. Britain methodically and regularly adds fuel to the fire and methodically and regularly hatches schemes to prevent even the slightest progress in the peaceful settlement process,” Peskov told reporters.Peskov also said Russian forces were already collecting information to locate potential missile production facilities.“The Russian military” was, he said, “systematically gathering data to identify the location of any missile production sites and then destroying them.”Moscow had warned London the previous week of unspecified “consequences” over Britain’s supply of drones to Kyiv. Russia has accused Britain of deepening its involvement in the conflict after reports that British-made drones had been used in long-range strikes against Russia for the first time.Burnham said at the time that London remained committed to supporting Ukraine “100% against ‘this illegal war’.
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