UK to Share Missile Tech Secrets to Help Ukraine Build Long-Range Weapons

British Prime Minister Andy Burnham announced on Monday (August 24, 2026) that the U.K. will help Ukraine manufacture its own long-range missiles by sharing classified technical information about British components. The announcement came during a visit to Kyiv, where Mr. Burnham joined international leaders for Ukraine's Independence Day.

The Prime Minister said that defence firm MBDA will release technical details on U.K.-made parts for the SCALP missile, enabling Ukraine to assemble the weapons locally. The SCALP is the French-produced version of the U.K.'s Storm Shadow, an air-launched, high-precision missile with a range of more than 250 kilometres. Both variants share Franco-British technology and are designed to strike fixed targets such as hardened bunkers and key infrastructure.

According to MBDA, the 5.1-metre missile is difficult to detect and uses an advanced navigation system, making it exceptionally accurate. Storm Shadow and SCALP missiles are currently in service with the British, French, and Italian air forces, as well as other export countries, and have been used in conflicts in Iraq, Libya, and Syria.

Ukraine has already been in talks with France to establish assembly lines for the missiles on its territory, which would allow Kyiv to produce its own version. The extent of progress and the timeline for deployment remain unclear. Douglas Barrie, a senior fellow at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, noted that while the U.K.'s decision to share classified information is significant, the practical impact will depend on how quickly Ukrainian-assembled SCALP missiles can be introduced into service.

However, the announcement is unlikely to address Ukraine's immediate needs, as the country continues to face a shortage of Patriot interceptor missiles. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Sunday (August 23, 2026) that Ukraine is receiving substantially fewer Patriot missiles even as Russian ballistic attacks increase. The shortfall is particularly serious because the United States and European partners are struggling to expand production.

The British announcement drew criticism from Russia. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov accused the U.K. of “fanning the flame” of the war on Kyiv's side, a claim Mr. Burnham swiftly dismissed. “Who started the fire?” he asked reporters when questioned about the remarks.

Britain has supported Ukraine with missiles since 2023, when it became the first country to supply longer-range strike weapons to Kyiv. That year, the U.K. donated a number of Storm Shadow missiles, giving Ukraine the ability to strike targets deep inside Russian-held territory and in Russian-occupied Crimea. In addition to the SCALP plan, British officials have been working with defence companies to test a new ground-launched strike system capable of hitting targets more than 500 kilometres away with a 225-kilogram warhead.