The President of the Republic, Emmanuel Macron, announced this Tuesday, July 11, at the NATO summit, the delivery of SCALP missiles that have already arrived in Ukraine.
The weapon that should make the difference. On the occasion of the NATO summit taking place this Tuesday and Wednesday, Emmanuel Macron announced that he had delivered SCALP missiles to Ukraine with the aim of increasing the war effort against Russia.
“The first missiles were delivered at the same time as our President announced,” said a military source, without specifying the exact number of missiles sent, while stocks available for France are estimated at “less than 400,” according to Defense magazine. be appreciated and international security.
Useful for rebalancing the balance of power
Developed jointly by Britain and France, this cruise missile, also known as Storm Shadow, is launched from a fighter plane. In particular, it offers “very high precision” and can penetrate “hardened targets” such as bunkers. Note that back in May London announced it would hand it over to the Ukrainian Armed Forces. A few days later, Russia claimed to have intercepted a Storm Shadow in connection with the conflict in Ukraine.
In addition, the SCALP has a range of over 250 kilometers, more than any other weapon Western countries have supplied to Kiev, allowing access to areas in the east of the country now controlled by the Russians. The delivery of these missiles had to meet three criteria defined by France: they should be “useful in combat” for the Ukrainians, “not escalating” towards Russia and “not weaken France’s defense capabilities”. self.
The missiles should therefore make it possible to “rebalance” the balance of power and “balance the Russian attack capabilities of several thousand kilometers,” according to the military source.
Ukraine, for its part, provided these missiles, like all Western weapons supplied, with “guarantees for use within its internationally recognized borders”.