UK to Share SCALP Missile Tech with Ukraine

British Prime Minister Andy Burnham announced on Monday that the UK will share classified technical information to help Ukraine produce long-range SCALP missiles. The decision was made during a visit to Kyiv for Ukraine's Independence Day celebrations, where Burnham joined other European leaders in showing support for Ukraine amid Russia's ongoing invasion.

According to NPR and the Los Angeles Times, defense firm MBDA will release details on UK-made parts for the SCALP missile, allowing Ukraine to assemble its own version of the weapon. The SCALP missile is a high-precision, air-launched missile with a range of over 250 kilometers (155 miles). It is designed to hit fixed or stationary targets such as hardened bunkers and key infrastructure.

Experts caution that operational missiles are unlikely in the near future. Arun Dawson from King's College London noted that the news won't help Ukraine through this winter, with effects likely starting next year at the earliest. Douglas Barrie of the International Institute for Strategic Studies emphasized that any impact will depend on how quickly Ukrainian-assembled SCALP cruise missiles can be introduced into service.

The announcement drew ire from Russia, with Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov accusing the UK of 'fanning the flame' of the war. Burnham swiftly dismissed this claim, asking reporters, 'Who started the fire?' The UK has been a key supporter of Ukraine since 2023 when it donated Storm Shadow missiles to Kyiv.

Ukraine is also receiving support from France and other allies in developing its own weapons. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky emphasized the importance of foreign help, stating that no nation could withstand attacks of such intensity without global support. The visiting leaders brought pledges of further military and financial aid, highlighting the ongoing commitment to Ukraine's defense.

Burnham also indicated he would likely attend a meeting of the U.N. General Assembly in New York in September to persuade U.S. President Donald Trump to supply Ukraine with Patriot air defense missiles. He expressed confidence that solving this issue would require partnership and negotiation among allies.

A Kremlin adviser warned that factories manufacturing drones in the United Kingdom for export to Ukraine could come under attack from “unknown sources”. Andrei Fedorov, an adviser to the Kremlin and a former deputy foreign minister, told British broadcaster BBC on Tuesday that he could not “exclude 100 percent” that there might be some “semi-military” action against Britain. He suggested potential reactions could include hacker attacks or political steps.

Fedorov stated that sharing missile blueprints is seen by Moscow as proof of the UK’s 'direct military involvement' in the Russia-Ukraine war. He mentioned that there might be different discussions on how a reaction should look, including possible technical reactions or hacker attacks from unknown sources. Fedorov also hinted at potential semi-military actions, such as incidents involving factories producing drones for Ukraine.