France to Provide Ukraine with Blueprints for Cruise Missiles Capable of Striking Russian Territory

France has decided to provide Ukraine with the blueprints for the SCALP-EG, a long-range cruise missile that serves as a key strategic weapon for the French military, and has authorized its local production.
According to The Telegraph on July 15 (local time), French President Emmanuel Macron and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed a defense agreement containing these provisions in Paris the previous day.
The agreement between the two nations includes an unconventional provision that goes beyond simple weapon supply, granting Ukrainian manufacturers the right to produce SCALP cruise missiles at domestic facilities.
Ukraine has also secured licenses to locally produce the Aster 30 advanced air defense interceptor missile and the AASM precision-guided air-to-ground bomb.
Additionally, Ukraine has confirmed an order for 16 of France's latest Rafale fighter jets and the acquisition of four batteries of the SAMP/T advanced surface-to-air defense system.
With this, Ukraine has become the first country to deploy the SAMP/T system, which was jointly developed by France and Italy, in active combat.
President Zelenskyy, who visited Paris to sign the agreement, stated, "France has shown true leadership for the benefit of all of Europe."
This decision by France comes just days after U.S. President Donald Trump promised to allow the local production of PAC-3 interceptor missiles for the Patriot air defense system in Ukraine.
Long-range strike weapons and air defense interceptors are considered critical assets for Ukraine, enabling the country to strike targets within Russian territory and defend its cities and energy infrastructure from large-scale Russian missile barrages.
This year, Ukraine has used the Storm Shadow cruise missile (known as SCALP in France), provided by the United Kingdom, to strike major Russian military factories and has repeatedly attacked Russian oil facilities using missiles and drones.
In particular, as Russia continues to launch large-scale missile strikes on major Ukrainian cities and energy infrastructure, this agreement for the local production of air defense and strike assets is expected to significantly bolster Ukraine's defensive capabilities.

(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.