Weapons

France, UK fund Storm Shadow/SCALP cruise missile overhaul

France and the United Kingdom have signed contracts with MBDA to update their Storm Shadow/SCALP EG long-range air-launched cruise missiles, it was announced on 22 February.

Under the deal, MBDA will refurbish the country's remaining stocks of the missile, which has been in service since 2003, in order to "sustain the missile until its planned out of service date in 2032", the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) said.

According to the MoD, "The regeneration will consist of a midlife refurbishment of current missile parts, such as the turbo-jet engine, an upgrade of the navigational system, and a like-for-like replacement of items such as the cabling, seals, and gaskets."