These missiles have proven effective in combat and will be supplied without depleting the French strategic reserves.
The provision involves an innovative recycling of existing military resources. France discovered several batches of Scalp missiles in its arsenal stored in protective "cocoons"—a method used to preserve equipment for potential future reactivation. The missiles, some of which were partially decommissioned with removed components to maintain other active units, will now be rejuvenated under the "Chrysalide" program. This initiative, named after the transformation stage of a caterpillar into a butterfly, signifies the revamping of these missiles.
The rejuvenation process will occur at the MBDA factories in Bourges, where the missiles will be refurbished rapidly and cost-effectively. This approach is financially efficient as these missiles were slated for disposal and will now be reconditioned at a fraction of the cost of new missiles. The funding for this project comes from the French government’s aid fund for Ukraine, ensuring that the French armed forces' operational capabilities remain unaffected.
The delivery also includes adaptation to ensure compatibility with Ukrainian systems, as the French training system provided to Kyiv requires specific programming not supported by export versions of the missiles.
This initiative was underscored by French President Emmanuel Macron at a press conference in January, where he highlighted the delivery of the Scalp missiles and several hundred bombs to Ukraine within the forthcoming weeks. This move reflects France's ongoing support to Ukraine amidst the ongoing conflict.
