France to send an additional batch of SCALP missiles to Ukraine

France is preparing an additional batch of long-range SCALP missiles and Mistral missiles for air defense for Ukraine.

Sébastien Lecornu, Minister of the Armed Forces, announced this in an interview with Le Journal du Dimanche.

The French Armed Forces Ministry also confirmed plans for long-term assistance for Ukraine.

“We will be supplying Mistral missiles again, in particular, to protect combat zones. And to enable Ukraine to launch strikes behind the front line, I have signed a new transfer of about ten Scalp missiles in the last few days,” Lecornu announced.

The Minister noted that France should continue strengthening the Ukrainian army even when hostilities stop.

The French authorities will also continue training the Ukrainian Defense Forces at French training grounds.

Currently, 2,000 Ukrainian soldiers are undergoing training under the guidance of French soldiers, using French weapons.

“We should maintain our assistance on a long-term basis because that is what will allow the Ukrainian authorities to consider political solutions when they decide to do so,” Lecornu added.

Ukrainian Air Force aircraft have long been using French SCALP EG cruise missiles to hit important military facilities of the Russian invaders.

For this purpose, the Ukrainian Su-24M/MR bomber has been adapted to use such long-range weapons. Similar air-launched cruise missiles were provided to Ukraine by the United Kingdom.

The Franco-British Storm Shadow/SCALP EG is a long-range air-to-ground air-launched cruise search missile. It is designed to overcome air defense systems and destroy important stationary targets, including bunkers.

The 5.1-meter-long search missile has a flight weight of up to 1,300 kg, while the weight of its warhead is 450 kg.