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The United Kingdom and France have signed a major new agreement to ramp up joint weapons development, including ordering more Storm Shadow cruise missiles and progressing work on a next-generation replacement.
The announcement, made following a summit between UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron, marks a renewed commitment under the upgraded Lancaster House 2.0 agreement – now dubbed the “Entente Industrielle” – to use defence as a driver of strategic capability and economic growth.
The new joint missile development program will sustain over 1,300 highly skilled jobs in the UK alone, with more than 300 roles supported at MBDA’s missile production facilities in Stevenage as the Storm Shadow production line is upgraded.
The cruise missile, widely regarded as one of the most effective in its class, has played a key role in recent conflicts and remains a cornerstone of deep strike capabilities for both nations.
As part of the agreement, the UK and France will:
- Advance development of a next-generation deep strike and anti-ship missile, replacing Storm Shadow/SCALP-EG.
- Jointly produce new beyond visual range air-to-air missiles for the Royal Air Force and French Air and Space Force.
- Launch new high-tech weapons programs, including microwave and radiofrequency weapons to counter drones and incoming missiles.
- Harness artificial intelligence to enable synchronised strikes using future cruise missiles and unmanned systems.
Prime Minister Starmer said the new agreements reflect the urgent need to adapt to modern threats: “As close partners and NATO allies, the UK and France have a long tradition of working together. Today’s agreements take that partnership to the next level – delivering new capabilities, supporting thousands of jobs and helping keep our people safe.”
For the first time, the UK and France have signed a formal declaration recognising that while their nuclear deterrents remain independent, they can be coordinated in response to extreme threats.
The document signals an unprecedented level of strategic trust, stating that no existential threat to Europe would go unanswered by either nation, and underscores a deeper commitment to bilateral nuclear cooperation.
The two countries will also expand joint research efforts in support of nuclear deterrence while reinforcing the global non-proliferation regime.
UK Defence Secretary John Healey MP added, “We are stepping up together to meet today’s threats and tomorrow’s challenges. This is about delivering better fighting capability faster and making our armed forces more interoperable – from the High North to the Black Sea.”
Amid growing security concerns in Europe, the two nations will also:
- Expand their Combined Joint Expeditionary Force, moving it to a high-readiness warfighting posture focused on European security.
- Establish, for the first time, a combined UK–French Corps-level command structure, capable of deploying thousands of troops in support of NATO operations.
- Integrate space and cyber capabilities into the force, enabling rapid battlefield responses using multi-domain intelligence and digital infrastructure.
The Combined Joint Force structure will also play a key role in sustaining military support for Ukraine. The UK and France reaffirmed their joint leadership of the Coalition of the Willing, a group of over 30 countries that will coordinate assistance in the event of a ceasefire or new phase of the conflict.
Further cooperation will also take place on missile defence for Europe, with the UK-led DIAMOND initiative continuing to advance NATO’s integrated air and missile defence network.
The new defence and industrial agreements form part of the UK government’s Plan for Change, aimed at using strategic investment to boost the economy, uplift industrial capacity and enhance national resilience.
In total, the joint defence initiatives mark one of the most significant steps forward in Anglo-French security cooperation since the original Lancaster House Treaties were signed in 2010.
