Storm Shadow/SCALP EG | |
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Type | Land‐attack air-launched cruise missile |
Place of origin | France & United Kingdom |
Service history | |
In service | Since 2003 |
Used by | See operators |
Wars | |
Production history | |
Designer | Matra BAe Dynamics |
Designed | 1994–2001 |
Manufacturer | MBDA |
Unit cost | £2,200,000 (FY2023) |
Specifications | |
Mass | 1,300 kg (2,900 lb) |
Length | 5.1 m (16 ft 9 in) |
Width | 630 mm (25 in) |
Height | 480 mm (19 in) |
Wingspan | 3 m (9 ft 10 in) |
Warhead | Multistage BROACH penetration warhead |
Warhead weight | 450 kilograms (990 lb) |
Engine | Microturbo TRI 60-30 turbojet 5.4 kN (1,200 lbf) |
Operational range | 550 km (300 nmi; 340 mi) |
Maximum speed | Mach .95 (323 m/s; 1,060 ft/s) |
Guidance system | GPS, INS, IIR & TERPROM |
Steering system | 6 tailplanes (4 vertical & 2 horizontal) |
Transport | Mirage 2000, Rafale, Su-24, Tornado, Typhoon |
References | Janes[1] & The Telegraph[2][3] |
Storm Shadow is an Anglo-French low-observable, long-range, air-launched cruise missile developed since 1994 by Matra and British Aerospace, and now manufactured by MBDA. "Storm Shadow" is the weapon's British name; in France it is called SCALP-EG (which stands for "Système de Croisière Autonome à Longue Portée – Emploi Général"; English: "Long Range Autonomous Cruise Missile System – General Purpose"). The missile is based on the French-developed Apache anti-runway cruise missile, but differs in that it carries a unitary warhead instead of cluster munitions.[4]
To meet the requirement issued by the French Ministry of Defence for a more potent cruise missile capable of being launched from surface vessels and submarines, and able to strike strategic and military targets from extended stand-off ranges with even greater precision, MBDA France began development of the Missile de Croisière Naval (Naval Cruise Missile) or MdCN in 2006 to complement the SCALP. The first firing test took place in July 2013 and was successful.[5] The MdCN has been operational on French FREMM frigates since 2017 and also equips France's Barracuda nuclear attack submarines, entering operational service in 2022.
In 2017, a joint contract to upgrade the respective Storm Shadow/SCALP stockpiles in French and British service was signed. It is expected to sustain the missile until its planned withdrawal from service in 2032.[6][7] The Future Cruise/Anti-Ship Weapon, currently being developed by the two countries, is intended to replace it.
The missile weighs about 1,300 kilograms (2,900 lb), with a conventional warhead of 450 kilograms (990 lb). It has a maximum body diameter of 48 centimetres (19 in) and a wingspan of three metres (120 in). It is propelled at Mach 0.8 by a Microturbo TRI 60-30 turbojet engine and has range of approximately 560 km (300 nmi; 350 mi).[8]
The weapon can be launched from a number of different aircraft—the Saab Gripen, Dassault Mirage 2000, Dassault Rafale, and the Panavia Tornado, both the Italian Tornado IDS and formerly the British Tornado GR4 (now retired).[9] Storm Shadow was integrated with the Eurofighter Typhoon as part of the Phase 2 Enhancement (P2E) in 2015,[10][11] but will not be fitted to the F-35 Lightning II.[12]
The Storm Shadow's BROACH warhead features an initial penetrating charge to clear soil or enter a bunker, then a variable delay fuze to control detonation of the main warhead. Intended targets are command, control and communications centres; airfields; ports and power stations; ammunition management and storage facilities; surface ships and submarines in port; bridges and other high value strategic targets.[9]
The missile is fire and forget, programmed before launch. Once launched, it cannot be controlled or commanded to self-destroy and its target information cannot be changed. Mission planners program the weapon with details of the target and its air-defences. The missile follows a path semi-autonomously, on a low flight path guided by GPS and terrain mapping to the target area.[13] Close to the target, the missile climbs and then dives into the target.[14]
Climbing to altitude is intended to achieve the best probability of target identification and penetration. During the final maneuver, the nose cone is jettisoned to allow a high resolution thermographic camera (infrared homing) to observe the target area. The missile then tries to locate its target based upon its targeting information (DSMAC). If it cannot, and there is a high risk of collateral damage, the missile is capable of flying to a crash point instead of risking inaccuracy.[14]
Enhancements reported in 2005 included the capability to relay target information just before impact and usage of one-way (link back) data link to relay battle damage assessment information back to the host aircraft, under development under a French DGA contract. At the time in-flight re-targeting capability, using a two-way data link, was planned.[15] In 2016, it was announced that Storm Shadow would be refurbished under the Selective Precision Effects At Range 4 (SPEAR 4) missile project.[16]
Some reports suggest a reduced capability version complying with Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) restrictions was created for export, for example to the United Arab Emirates.[17][18][19]
Matra and British Aerospace were selected as the prime contractors for the Conventionally Armed Standoff Missile (CASOM) in July 1996; their Storm Shadow missile beat submissions from McDonnell Douglas, Texas Instruments/Short Brothers, Hughes/Smiths Industries, Daimler-Benz Aerospace/Bofors, GEC-Marconi and Rafael[20][21] The Storm Shadow design was based on Matra's Apache anti-runway cruise missile.[21] A development and production contract was signed in February 1997, by which time Matra and BAe had completed the merger of their missile businesses to form Matra BAe Dynamics.[22] France ordered 500 SCALP missiles in January 1998.[23]
The first successful fully guided firing of the Storm Shadow/SCALP EG took place at the CEL Biscarosse range in France at the end of December 2000[9] from a Mirage 2000N. The first British firing occurred in May 2001 from a Tornado flying from BAE Warton.[citation needed]
The first flight of Storm Shadow missiles on the Eurofighter Typhoon took place on 27 November 2013 at Decimomannu air base in Italy, and was performed by Alenia Aermacchi using instrumented production aircraft 2.[24]
In July 2016, the UK's MOD awarded a £28 million contract to support the Storm Shadow over the next five years.[25]
The missile was made ITAR-free by French initiative.[26]
RAF Tornados used Storm Shadow missiles operationally for the first time during the 2003 invasion of Iraq.[27] Although they were yet to officially enter service, "an accelerated testing schedule" saw them employed by the RAF's 617 Squadron in the conflict.[28][29][30]
During the 2011 military intervention in Libya, the Storm Shadow/SCALP-EG was fired at pro-Gaddafi targets by French Air Force Rafales [31][32] and Italian Air Force and Royal Air Force[33][34] Tornados. Targets included the Al Jufra Air Base.[35] and a military bunker in Sirte, the home town of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi.[36] In December 2011, Italian defence officials noted that Italian Tornado IDS aircraft had fired between 20 and 30 Storm Shadows during the Libyan Campaign. This was the first time that Italian aircraft had fired the missile in live combat, and it was reported the missile had a 97 per cent success rate.[37]
French aircraft fired 12 SCALP missiles at ISIS targets in Syria as part of Operation Chammal. These launches took place on 15 December 2015 and 2 January 2016. It is thought that these firings may have been approved after a decision by the French MOD to reduce their inventory of SCALP missiles to reduce costs.[38] On Sunday 26 June 2016 the RAF used four Storm Shadow missiles against an ISIS bunker in Iraq. The Storm Shadow missiles were launched from two Tornado aircraft. All four missiles scored direct hits, penetrating deep into the bunker. Storm Shadow missiles were used due to the bunker's massive construction.
In October 2016 the UK Government confirmed UK-supplied missiles were used by Saudi Arabia in the conflict in Yemen.[39]
In April 2018 the UK Government announced they used Storm Shadow missiles deployed by Panavia Tornado GR4s to strike a chemical weapon facility in Syria.[40] According to US Marine Corp Lt. Gen. Kenneth Mckenzie, the Him Shinshar chemical weapons storage facility near Homs was hit by 9 US Tomahawks, 8 British Storm Shadows, 3 French MdCN cruise missiles, and 2 French SCALP cruise missiles.[41][42] Satellite images showed that the site was destroyed in the attack.[43] Head of the Russian General Staff Main Operations Department Sergey Rudskoy, in his briefing for media on 14 April 2018, announced that all eight missiles launched from Tornados were shot down by Syrian Air Defence Forces,[citation needed] a claim denied by the US, UK and France. The Pentagon said that no missiles had been intercepted, and that the raids were “precise and overwhelming”.[44] In response, the Russian Ministry of Defence, during a press conference in Moscow, presented parts of what they claimed was a downed Storm Shadow missile.[45][46]
It has been suggested that Storm Shadows, deployed by either Emirati Mirages or Egyptian Rafales, could have been used in the July 2020 airstrike against Al-Watiya Air Base during the Second Libyan Civil War.[47] The attack against the base, which housed Turkish military personnel supporting the internationally recognized Government of National Accord, injured several Turkish soldiers, destroyed their MIM-23 Hawk anti-aircraft missiles systems and their KORAL Electronic Warfare System.[48][49][50][51]
On 11 March 2021, two Royal Air Force Typhoon FGR4 jets operating out of RAF Akrotiri, Cyprus hit a cave complex south west of the city of Erbil in northern Iraq, where a significant number of ISIS fighters were reported, marking the first combat use of the Storm Shadow from the Typhoon.[52][53]
On 11 May 2023, the United Kingdom announced that it was supplying Storm Shadows to the Ukrainian military during the Russian invasion of Ukraine. This followed a pledge from the UK in February 2023 to send Ukraine long-range missiles in response to Russian attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure. Ukraine has insisted it would not use such weapons on Russian territory. UK Defence Minister Ben Wallace emphasized the delivery as a "calibrated, proportionate response to Russia’s escalation," noting Russian use of even longer-range munitions including the AS-24 Killjoy hypersonic missile, 3M-54 Kalibr cruise missile, and Shahed-136 one-way attack drone.[54][55] The grant of Storm Shadow missiles is a significant boost to the Ukrainian military, as they are capable of striking targets at much longer ranges than had previously been possible, including command-and-control nodes and logistics points in occupied Crimea to interrupt Russia's ability to support the front line.[56] Shortly after, France announced it would be delivering the SCALP-EG, its version of the missile, to Ukraine as well. France said it was not delivering weapons capable of hitting Russian soil.[57] The UK on 18 May confirmed Ukraine had already successfully used the Storm Shadow.[58]
Russia claimed Ukraine used Storm Shadow missiles to strike industrial sites in Luhansk on 13 May 2023, just two days after their delivery had been announced.[59] According to a report by Russian news outlet Izvestia, the cruise missiles are launched from specially modified Su-24 strike aircraft and fly under the cover of MiG-29 and Su-27 fighters equipped with AGM-88 HARMs. Ukrainian command also uses UAVs and ADM-160 MALD decoys to divert Russian air defenses and protect the aircraft and ordnance from being intercepted.[60]
The SCALP EG and Storm Shadow are identical except for how they integrate with the aircraft.[61]
Developed by France for export to the United Arab Emirates for use with its Mirage 2000, modifications were made to reduce the range reportedly to 290 km (160 nmi; 180 mi) in order to comply with Missile Technology Control Regime guidelines.[61]
Missile de Croisière Naval (Naval Cruise Missile) | |
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Type | Long-range ship and submarine-launched cruise missile Land-attack missile |
Place of origin | France |
Service history | |
In service | From 2017 (frigates) From 2022 (submarines) |
Production history | |
Manufacturer | MBDA France |
Unit cost | €2.48m (US$3.19 million) [62] (FY2012) |
Specifications | |
Mass | 1,400 kg (3,086 lb) |
Length | 6.5 m (21 ft 4 in) |
Diameter | 500 mm (20 in) |
Wingspan | 2.85 m (9 ft 4 in) |
Effective firing range | Ship launched 1,400 km (870 mi; 760 nmi)[61] Sub launched 1,000 km (620 mi; 540 nmi)[63][61] |
Warhead | 300 kg (660 lb) HE multipurpose[61] |
Engine | TR50 microturbo turbojet engine |
Maximum speed | 800 km/h (500 mph; 430 kn; Mach 0.65) |
Guidance system | inertial guidance, topographic (TERCOM/TERPROM), active radar homing and infrared guidance, GPS |
Accuracy | metric |
Launch platform | FREMM frigates Barracuda submarines Scorpène submarines |
In 2006, MBDA France[64] began the development of a longer range naval vertical launched cruise missile to be deployed on a new series of French warships in the 2010s and complement the SCALP/Storm Shadow. Called Missile de Croisière Naval (MdCN),[65] it became operational on the six ASW/land-attack variants of the French FREMM multipurpose frigates in 2017[66][67] and on Barracuda-class submarines in June 2022,[68] using the A70 version of the Sylver launcher on the former[69] and the 533 mm torpedo tubes on the latter.[70] As it is not launched from a plane like the SCALP, the MdCN uses a booster during its launch phase to break out of the ship and gain some initial velocity.[63]
The submarine version is encapsulated in a hydrodynamic hard container which is ejected when the missile reaches the surface. Expected to fulfill a similar role as the American-developed BGM-109 Tomahawk, the range of the MdCN (well over 1000 km) is double that of the SCALP/Storm Shadow.[63] The smaller Scorpène-class submarines can also carry the MdCN missile.[71] In addition to its longer range, the MdCN also distinguishes itself by its autonomous navigation performance and terminal guidance by infrared recognition.[72]
France originally ordered 50 MdCN for its FREMM frigates in 2006 and delivery was expected in 2012.[62] A further 100 surface-launched missiles were ordered in 2009, along with 50 for the planned Barracuda-class submarines.[62] The €1.2bn (FY2011) project was to deliver 200 missiles at a unit cost of €2.48m, or €6m including development costs.[62]
The MdCN's first complete qualification firing took place in July 2013, at the Biscarosse test range.[64][72] During its third development firing, the MdCN perfectly met all its test requirements, including the validation of its autonomous navigation performance and terminal guidance by infrared recognition, which provide the weapon with its exceptionally high precision.[72]
The MdCN was used in its first operational strike during the April 2018 bombing of Damascus and Homs against alleged Syrian chemical weapons production sites, in coordination with the United States and United Kingdom, but without approval from the UN. In addition to ten Scalp cruise missiles fired from 5 Dassault Rafale aircraft, the FREMM frigates Aquitaine, Provence, and Languedoc launched three MdCN missiles.[73]
Although all the designated targets were reached during the mission, some missiles suffered considerable technical difficulties. In the navy's report, it was stated that nine SCALP missiles were successfully fired, but the last one failed an internal self-check and refused to take off from the rail, and was therefore abandoned at sea. Meanwhile, two frigates suffered from computer issues and were unable to launch their MdCNs; only the third frigate was able to do so.[74][75][76]
The problems encountered with the frigates suggest that the MdCN had issues integrating with the warships, most likely due to the new nature of the FREMMs, rather than with the missile itself. Some FREMMs deployed during the operation were not fully operationally ready, having been withdrawn from exercises only a few days prior.[76] In the same report, it was also stated that the issues with the MdCN and the warships have already been fixed.[77]
On 20 October 2020 it was reported that the first of the new Barracuda-class submarines to be commissioned, FS Suffren, had performed its first firing of the MdCN. The firing from the new submarine was highly awaited because of the technical issues encountered in the 2018 operational strike, which had led to deeper scrutiny.[72] The test was successful.[78][72] Suffren entered operational service on 3 June 2022.[68]
By then upgraded to the GR4 standard, the UK's ground-attack aircraft played a part in the opening salvoes of the second conflict with Saddam Hussein's forces in Iraq. This was a spectacular debut for its Storm Shadow weapons, which allowed pinpoint strikes to be conducted against key infrastructure targets from a launch distance of more than 135nm (250km).
2003 - Flew the RAF's first operational mission using Storm Shadow.
[Wing Commander Robertson] set about completing his mission - firing Britain's first air-launched cruise missile, the Storm Shadow.
Presented content of the Wikipedia article was extracted in 2023-05-23 based on https://en.wikipedia.org/?curid=306908