The extension of the production will allow the two countries to restock the Storm Shadow/SCALP stockpiles as the work on the next-generation cruise missile.
The United Kingdom and France announced on Jul. 9, 2025 that the production of the Storm Shadow/SCALP-EG ALCM (Air-Launched Cruise Missile) will resume in 2025. The weapon, used by both the UK’s RAF (Royal Air Force) and France’s FASF (French Air and Space Force), has been in the spotlight as it continues to see action in Ukraine, used by the country’s Su-24 Fencers.
The U.K. Ministry of Defense also mentioned a “next-gen cruise missile,” possibly referring to the successor to the Storm Shadow, as French minister for the armed forces Sébastien Lecornu and British MP John Healy visited MBDA UK’s facility in Stevenage, in the south of the country, where the missile is produced.
The decision is aimed at both replenishing the two countries’ stocks after deliveries to Ukraine and reviving their economies through defense industrial manufacturing. The move also comes amid proactive British, French and German postures in strengthening NATO’s eastern flank before Russia.
Lecornu mentioned how the last order for the weapon was 15 years ago. Unofficial assessments put Rome’s, London’s and Paris’ Storm Shadow/SCAP-EG stocks in the higher hundreds/few thousands, however they are now presumed to be significantly depleted after the supply to Ukraine.
Lecornu said on X: “Supplied to Ukraine, the Franco-British SCALP-EG/Storm Shadow missile has demonstrated its effectiveness in modern high-intensity combat, in decisive situations. As a joint venture between France, the UK, Italy and Germany, MBDA is a symbol of Europe’s leading defense industry.” SCALP is the French designation for the missile.
https://t.co/kZ1LPiRW1p pic.twitter.com/04tXaDpNCT
— OSINTtechnical (@Osinttechnical) July 10, 2025
The U.K. MoD also stressed upon how “from Storm Shadow to next-gen cruise missiles, the UK and France are strengthening defence ties, supporting British jobs and our shared security.” Healy further said that the “two nations help keep each other safe, drive economic growth and deliver security for Europe.”
From Storm Shadow to next-gen cruise missiles, the UK and France are strengthening defence ties, supporting British jobs and our shared security.
Yesterday at @MBDA_UK Stevenage, @JohnHealey_MP and French Minister @SebLecornu saw this vital industrial partnership in action. pic.twitter.com/GR4Kr46mnt
— Ministry of Defence 🇬🇧 (@DefenceHQ) July 10, 2025
Storm Shadow/SCALP-EG ALCM
The official images showed two nearly finished Storm Shadow/SCALP-EG on the assembly bays, with some panels missing, pending final assembly, integration and testing. We also see red-colored caps covering the missiles’ nose section, which is reported to feature a DSMAC (Digital Scene Matching Area Correlator) sensor activated during the attack run’s terminal phase.
The weapon is used by various launch platforms, like the Mirage 2000-5, Rafale, the Eurofighter Typhoon, and the Tornado IDS operated by France, U.K. and Italy. The stealthy missile weighs 1,300 kg, is over 5 meters in length and is specifically designed for striking heavily fortified and valuable targets from stand-off distance, keeping aircraft and crews out of harm’s way.
The Storm Shadow was first used in combat during the 2011 Libya Air War by RAF and Italian Tornado jets. As per publicly available information, the Storm Shadow is equipped with a 450 kg conventional warhead and can touch ranges in excess of 250 km.
The Typhoon used the missile operationally for the first time when Royal Air Force (RAF) jets fired it at Islamic State targets in Iraq on Mar. 15, 2021. The aircraft have been operating from RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus in support of Operation Shader.
The Storm Shadow is also in service with the Italian Air Force (Aeronautica Militare), and was integrated onto the Ukrainian Air Force’s Soviet-era Su-24 Fencer ground attack aircraft.
Regarding the next-gen cruise missile mentioned by the British MoD, the future weapon could be the dual-role Future Cruise/Anti-Ship Weapon (FC/ASW) program that has appeared in official concept renditions since 2023.
Project moves ahead!@MBDAGroup “welcomes the Italian Government’s intent to join France and the UK in the Future Cruise / Anti-Ship Weapon (FC/ASW) programme”
📷 Vayu and MBDA pic.twitter.com/mY7EkRqYm4
— Vayu Aerospace Review (@ReviewVayu) June 27, 2023
Reviving British, European defence industry
A statement by the U.K. government a day prior to Lecornu and Healey’s visit to Stevenage stressed upon the broader ‘Team UK’ push, with defense industrial manufacturing becoming the bedrock of job creation and eco-industrial revival. Recommendations of the Defence and Economic Growth Taskforce put the figure at 150,000 new jobs and 2.7% of the GDP by 2027 through increased defence spending.
The Aviationist also reported how parts from former RAF Tornado GR4s have been ground down and converted into 3D printable material for use in the sixth generation Tempest manned fighter, under the GCAP (Global Combat Air Program). The initiative allows the U.K. to manufacture “higher quality” components than imported ones, while also supporting Britain’s domestic defense and aerospace industry.
Today my friend @SebLecornu and I reaffirmed the enduring and vital defence partnership the UK and France share.
Our two nations help keep each other safe, drive economic growth and deliver security for Europe.
That partnership will only grow stronger. 🇬🇧🇫🇷 https://t.co/KKkTBA2zOt
— John Healey (@JohnHealey_MP) July 9, 2025
