France Opens Its Arsenal to Ukraine—Aster 30, Hammer and SCALP Production Licenses Are Now in Kyiv’s Hands

Ukraine has received all of the weapons-production licenses previously promised by France, clearing the way for Ukrainian industry to manufacture systems including Aster 30 air-defense missiles, AASM Hammer precision-guided bombs, and SCALP long-range cruise missiles, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on October 15.

French President Emmanuel Macron announced the planned transfer of the licenses in July following a meeting of the Coalition of the Willing in Paris.

The package covers three weapon families that already play important roles in Ukraine’s air defense and long-range strike capabilities.

The Aster 30 is used by the Franco-Italian SAMP/T air-defense system, several of which have already been supplied to Ukraine.

The modern Aster 30 Block 1 can engage aircraft, cruise missiles, and drones at ranges of up to approximately 120 kilometers and altitudes of up to 25 kilometers. It also has an anti-ballistic capability, allowing it to intercept some short-range ballistic missiles at distances of roughly 30 kilometers.

Domestic production would be particularly significant for Ukraine as demand for high-end air-defense interceptors continues to rise amid sustained Russian ballistic missile, cruise missile, and drone strikes.

Expanding production beyond existing European lines could help increase the number of missiles available to Ukrainian SAMP/T batteries over the longer term.

The AASM Hammer represents a different part of the equation. Rather than being a complete bomb produced from scratch, Hammer is a guidance and propulsion kit that converts conventional Western aerial bombs into precision-guided weapons.

Unlike the US-made JDAM family, Hammer incorporates its own rocket motor, extending its reach substantially. Depending on the release profile, the weapon can strike targets at roughly 15 kilometers when launched from low altitude and up to around 70 kilometers from higher altitude.

Current variants include the Hammer-250 for the 500-pound-class Mk.82 bomb and the significantly heavier Hammer-1000 for the roughly 2,000-pound Mk.84. Different guidance packages are available depending on the intended target and mission.

The third weapon covered by the French licensing package is the SCALP EG, the French version of the Franco-British Storm Shadow long-range air-launched cruise missile.

SCALP measures about 5.1 meters in length, weighs roughly 1,300 kilograms, and carries a 450-kilogram warhead designed to penetrate and destroy hardened fixed targets. The missile has been in French and British service since 2003 and is currently produced by MBDA.

The French SCALP EG and British Storm Shadow are fundamentally the same weapon, differing mainly in software and integration requirements for their respective carrier aircraft. Ukraine has already used the missile extensively for long-range strikes against high-value Russian military targets.

Earlier, a Ukrainian Mirage 2000-5F fighter jet supplied by France reportedly scored a first, shooting down a Russian S8000 Banderol cruise missile not with an air-to-air missile, but with bursts from its built-in 30mm cannons.

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