UK, France Deal to Upgrade Storm Shadow/SCALP EG Cruise Missiles

France and the UK have signed a GBP146 million (US$182 million) contract with MBDA to upgrade their Storm Shadow/SCALP EG long-range air-launched cruise missiles.

Under the contract, MBDA will refurbish the UK’s Storm Shadow and France’s SCALP missiles.

MBDA will refurbish the country's remaining stocks of the Storm Shadow 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 in a statement.

"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." the ministry of defense added.

The first refurbished Storm Shadows are due to be delivered to the Royal Air Force (RAF) at the end of 2018, and the first SCALP EGs to the French Air Force in 2020.

The UK MoD stated that the joint update contract would result in saving GBP50 million for the two countries. According to the French MoD, the UK part of the deal was approved in October 2016, and the French part of the deal in December 2016.

Used by the Royal Air Force, or RAF, the Storm Shadow is MBDA’s low-observable, air-launched cruise missile, which has a range of approximately 560 kilometers (300 nautical miles). SCALP is the French air force’s version of the missile.

The missile can be carried by British Tornado jets, as well as France’s Dassault Mirage 2000 and Dassault Rafale.