A new phase of joint development on deep strike and anti-ship missiles will move both countries closer to selecting a final design to replace Storm Shadow. The programme will sustain 1,300 highly skilled jobs across the UK and over 300 roles at MBDA’s Stevenage production facility.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer described the agreement as a major step forward in defence ties between the two nations. “We stand ready to use our shared might to advance our joint capabilities – equipping us for the decades to come while supporting thousands of UK jobs and keeping our people safe,” he said.
The partnership will also see closer work on future air-to-air missile systems and advanced weapons such as microwave and radiofrequency technologies. In addition, both countries will explore the use of artificial intelligence to develop algorithms for synchronised strikes with missiles and drones.
Under the refreshed Lancaster House agreement – now dubbed “Entente Industrielle” – the UK and France are committed to making defence an engine for economic growth. These industrial projects align with the UK Government’s “Plan for Change” by boosting national resilience and technological innovation.
Defence Secretary John Healey said: “The UK and France are stepping up together to meet today’s threats and tomorrow’s challenges. We are committed to driving defence as an engine for growth, delivering better fighting capabilities faster, and ensuring our armed forces can operate side by side – from the High North to the Black Sea.”
A separate declaration signed by Prime Minister Starmer and President Emmanuel Macron will deepen UK-France nuclear cooperation. For the first time, both countries have formally acknowledged their nuclear deterrents as independent but potentially co-ordinated in response to any extreme threat to Europe.
The declaration underlines that any adversary threatening Britain or France’s vital interests could face the combined force of both nations’ nuclear capabilities. The agreement also includes strengthened cooperation on nuclear research and non-proliferation.
Both nations will further expand their Combined Joint Force (CJF), now incorporating space and cyber capabilities to enhance situational awareness and battlefield responsiveness. The CJF will be capable of commanding a combined UK-French corps for the first time, working in tandem with NATO allies.
This strengthened force will play a central role in delivering the UK Government’s Strategic Defence Review commitment to NATO’s Strategic Reserve Corps. It will also reinforce UK-French leadership of the Coalition of the Willing, which supports military coordination for Ukraine in the event of a ceasefire.
The partnership includes support for the UK-led DIAMOND initiative to improve NATO’s integrated air and missile defence systems. These efforts aim to ensure interoperability across allied air defence platforms and enhance protection for Europe.
