The UK and France will order more Storm Shadow cruise missiles as they discuss a successor to their defence pact, PA Media/DPA reported, quoted by BTA.
The Storm Shadow, or as the French call it, the SCALP, is a long-range missile supplied by both Britain and France to Ukraine, allowing Kiev to strike targets deep inside Russian territory. The two countries have been discussing cooperation on a new missile for years, but with French President Emmanuel Macron's visit to Britain today, the two countries will commit to the next phase of the Storm successor project. Shadow“.
The joint development will help support more than 1,300 jobs in Britain, according to the government in London.
On the third day of Macron's state visit to Britain, he and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer will also agree to deepen their nuclear ties.
The UK and France, Europe's only two nuclear powers, will say in a declaration that their nuclear deterrents - while independent - can be coordinated to deter threats such as Russia from attacking Europe.
The declaration comes at a time when the Donald Trump administration in the US is calling for NATO's European forces to take a greater role in the alliance.
“From war in Europe to new nuclear risks and daily cyberattacks - the threats we face are multiplying. As close partners and NATO allies, the UK and France have a long history of defence cooperation and today's agreements take our partnership to the next level," Starmer said.
“We stand ready to use our shared power to develop our joint capabilities - equipping ourselves for the decades to come, while supporting thousands of UK jobs and ensuring the security of our people“, he added.
“The UK and France are joining forces to meet today's threats and tomorrow's challenges. We are committed to driving defence as an engine for growth, delivering better warfighting capabilities faster and ensuring our armed forces can operate side by side - from the High North to the Black Sea“, said British Defence Secretary John Healy. “This partnership strengthens our leadership in Europe, provides continued support for Ukraine and sends a clear signal to our adversaries that we are stronger together,“ he added.
Building on the 2010 Lancaster House agreements between France and Britain, the two countries will also strengthen a joint military venture known as the United Joint Forces.
They also plan to build closer military-industrial ties, including in the fields of artificial intelligence and directed energy weapons, as part of a program called by London the “Industrial Entente“.