Yesterday, the United Kingdom and France signed a new agreement ordering the purchase of additional Storm Shadow cruise missiles to replenish their stockpiles following multiple transfers to the Armed Forces of Ukraine. This initiative falls under what has been termed an “Entente Industrielle.” In addition to acquiring new units, both countries will also move forward with the development of a new missile designed to eventually replace the Storm Shadow, expected to feature enhanced deep-strike capabilities.
Providing further detail, the recently signed agreement aims to sustain up to 1,300 skilled jobs in the British defense industry, while also enabling the modernization of production lines at MBDA’s plant in Stevenage—creating an additional 300 jobs. Furthermore, both France and the UK intend to foster the development of artificial intelligence capabilities to integrate into future weapon systems, which could enhance coordinated strike capabilities alongside drones.
Quoting British Prime Minister Keir Starmer: “As close partners and NATO allies, the UK and France have a deep history of defence collaboration and today’s agreements take our partnership to the next level. We stand ready to use our shared might to advance our joint capabilities – equipping us for the decades to come while supporting thousands of UK jobs and keeping our people safe.”
Meanwhile, UK Defence Secretary John Healey stated: “The UK and France are stepping up together to meet today’s threats and tomorrow’s challenges. We are committed to driving defence as an engine for growth, delivering better fighting capabilities faster, and ensuring our armed forces can operate side by side – from the High North to the Black Sea. This partnership strengthens our leadership in Europe, ensures continued support for Ukraine, and sends a clear signal to our adversaries that we stand stronger, together.”
It is worth recalling that, as mentioned earlier, the UK has been supplying Storm Shadow missiles to Ukraine since 2023 as part of its military assistance to counter the Russian invasion. France has done the same with its SCALP missiles (the domestic designation for Storm Shadow). These weapons have enabled Ukrainian forces to strike targets at distances of up to 250 kilometers, with official authorization granted in 2024 to use them against targets on Russian territory—a decision delayed for months due to concerns over escalating the conflict.
Finally, in relation to the war in Ukraine, it is important to note that both the British and French defense ministries have reaffirmed their commitment to the Coalition of the Willing—a group of over 30 nations preparing to provide continued support to Kyiv once a ceasefire is reached. Additionally, both countries have agreed to expand their cooperation on Anglo-French nuclear deterrence, aiming to ensure that any threat to European security or to the interests of these two nations will be met with a joint response.
*Images used for illustrative purposes.
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