Kiev not to be able to use SCALP missiles effectively without US’ approval — expert

LONDON, August 24. /TASS/. The transfer of classified data for the production of SCALP cruise missiles to Kiev will require the United States’ approval, otherwise their use can hardly be effective, Sky News security and defense analyst Michael Clarke said, commenting on UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s relevant statement.

"The reason it's quite hard for the other side to pick [the missile] up is it hugs the ground, and that ground radar, that terrain-following mapping, comes from American intelligence," he said.

He also noted that SCALP depends on MALD missiles manufactured by the US corporation Raytheon. Such missiles are a miniature decoy which is typically launched above a main missile and can imitate the flight of aircraft or missiles, generating radar signals and overloading air defense systems.

"So in two critical ways... you need the United States' cooperation, which is not to say the Ukrainians couldn't use it without that [SCALP], but it wouldn't be nearly as effective," Clarke added.

Commenting on the UK prime minister’s statement, Russian presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov said that Britain is participating in the war against Russia on Kiev’s side.