The United Kingdom and France have signed an agreement to increase the procurement of MBDA’s Storm Shadow cruise missiles.
Known as SCALP in France, the Storm Shadow is a low-observable, long-range air-launched missile derived from the French Apache anti-runway missile. As part of this defense industrial cooperation, production lines at Stevenage will be upgraded, boosting stockpiles of the weapon and sustaining 300 jobs at MBDA.
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Joint Fighting Capability
The agreement also includes the joint development of a successor weapon system to replace the Storm Shadow, a project expected to support 1,300 jobs in the U.K.
British Defence Secretary John Healey emphasized that the U.K.-French partnership, forged under a renewed Lancaster House “entente industrielle,” is a commitment to fostering defense as a driver of economic growth while enhancing joint military capabilities.
“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,” the defense chief said.
AI, Space and Cyber Partnerships
The agreement outlines additional U.K.-French collaborations to develop advanced armaments, including microwave weapons and jammers to counter drone and missile threats. It will also explore the use of artificial intelligence for algorithm development, enhancing the lethality of U.K. and French missiles and drones through synchronized strikes.
The pact also seeks to advance the integration of space and cyber capabilities to improve situational awareness and enable rapid response to emerging threats on the battlefield.
Following this new entente industrielle, the U.K. and Germany are set to sign a defense treaty on July 17, which will include a mutual defense provision based on the Trinity House Agreement signed by Healey and German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius in October 2024.