The UK will help Ukraine make long-range missiles by sharing classified tech information

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy welcomes and shakes hands with Britain's Prime Minister Andy Burnham upon his arrival at Horodetskyi House ahead of their bilateral meeting in Kyiv, Monday, Aug. 24, 2026. Henry Nicholls/POOL AFP/ AP hide caption

LONDON — British Prime Minister Andy Burnham said Monday that the U.K. will help Ukraine make its own long-range missiles by sharing classified technical information for British components.

Burnham, who was in Kyiv alongside other international leaders for Ukraine's Independence Day, said defense firm MBDA will release details on U.K.-made parts for the SCALP missile to Ukraine to help the country assemble the weapons.

However, experts say that won't result in operational missiles soon — or address Ukraine's most pressing needs in its war against Russia's full-scale invasion.

Here's what to know about the missiles and how significant the announcement is for Ukraine:

The SCALP missile 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 kilometers (155 miles). Both use shared French and British technology.

Measuring 5.1 meters (16.7 feet,) the missile is hard to detect and is designed to hit fixed or stationary targets such as hardened bunkers and key infrastructure, according to MBDA. The defense firm says the missile uses an advanced navigation system and is exceptionally accurate.

Storm Shadow and SCALP missiles are in service with the British, French and Italian air forces, as well as other export countries. They have been used in conflicts in Iraq, Libya and Syria.