What issues France had to resolve to send long-range SCALP missiles to Ukraine

Ukraine, facing difficulties on the front lines, is urging Western allies to increase and expedite the delivery of weapons necessary to halt Russia's offensive.

Long-range weapons are high on the list of priority needs, such as cruise missiles, which France began supplying to Kyiv following UK's lead.

Read more in an exclusive article by RFI on how the French government managed to organise the supply of SCALP missiles to the Ukrainian Armed Forces while maintaining its own strategic reserves – Operation SCALP: Why supplying missiles for striking Russians became a challenge for France.

French President Emmanuel Macron announced new arms deliveries to Ukraine, including "40 SCALP missiles," a press conference on 16 January 2024.

This was about the second batch of cruise missiles of Franco-British design that Paris had handed over to the Ukrainian forces.

How did France manage to organise the supply of these weapons, which military experts consider strategic?

Ukraine was provided with decommissioned Scalp missiles, some reaching end-of-life and others cannibalised for parts, through an affordable refurbishing process and were stored in "cocoons." By the way, the supply programme of SCALP missiles to Ukraine was named "Chrysalide" ("butterfly doll"; sometimes "cocoon").

They undergo a three-month overhaul to restore functionality through replacement of each missile, as well as for conducting necessary tests and trials. The work was carried out under an accelerated and simplified procedure, as the SCALP missiles sent to Ukraine were not intended for further storage but only for useing them on the battlefield in the coming weeks.

The operation began in January as soon as President Macron announced the missile transfer.

Supplying missiles to Ukraine did not require significant expenses. According to RFI sources, each refurbished missile cost "a quarter of brand-new Scalps."

The operation was fully financed from the special aid fund for Ukraine allocated by France for purchases of weapons from French manufacturers.

In addition, "such a supply scheme has no impact on the state of arsenals and the needs of the French army," noted an informed source.

In addition to the purely French "Chrysalide" program, which is expected to be completed this year, the French government is also searching for weapons outside the country. The SCALP missile was produced and is being produced, in particular, in an "export" version for sale to other countries.

But it's not that simple. If these missiles are found to purchase for Ukraine, the export version of SCALP still needs to be modified to be compatible with the guidance system provided by Paris to Kyiv.

The first known SCALP launch was aimed at a Russian command post in Luhansk, which had so far remained beyond the reach of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

But primarily, SCALP missiles with their 300-kilometer range made a significant contribution to the victory Ukraine achieved in the Black Sea.

Thus, Kyiv defended the port of Odesa and ensured a sea corridor along the coast for the resumption of grain exports.

SCALP missiles were also used to strike Russian supply chains on the front lines.

The missile's penetrating warhead is capable of destroying underground fortifications. With a range of 300 km, the missile can burn through obstacles, such as concrete, to a depth of several meters, after which the main part of the 450-kilogram warhead detonates inside the target.

Thanks to its high precision, it can create a hole into which a second missile can be directed.