UK plans to share missile technology to support Ukrainian production

Britain plans to share classified technical information about UK-made components used in Storm Shadow cruise missiles to support Ukraine’s effort to produce long-range weapons, according to an announcement expected during Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s visit to Kyiv on Monday, August 24.

The measure would allow European defence company MBDA to release information about British components in the Anglo-French Storm Shadow, also known in France as Scalp. Britain also plans to help France establish missile assembly lines in Ukraine.

The initiative is a long-term industrial step and is not expected to change Ukraine’s battlefield capacity immediately. Developing a Ukrainian-made version of the missile could take several years.

Burnham’s Kyiv trip, his first foreign visit as prime minister, coincides with Ukraine’s 35th Independence Day. He is also expected to join a meeting of the 34-country “coalition of the willing,” co-chaired remotely with French President Emmanuel Macron, on support for Ukraine and possible security arrangements after a peace agreement.

The move comes as Ukraine seeks additional air-defence interceptors following renewed Russian long-range attacks. Moscow has repeatedly criticised Britain’s military support for Kyiv, while the UK government says it will maintain assistance until a just and lasting peace is achieved.