Storm Shadow

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For the fictional character, see Storm Shadow (G.I. Joe).
Storm Shadow/SCALP EG
Storm Shadow
TypeLong-range, air-to-surface missile
Place of originFrance, United Kingdom
Service history
In service2002 – present
Used bySee Operators
Production history
DesignerMatra BAe Dynamics
ManufacturerMBDA
Unit cost
  • €850,000 (US$1.18 million) (FY2011)[1]
  • £790,000 (US$1.27 million) (FY2011)[2]
Specifications
Mass1,300 kilograms (2,900 lb)
Length5.1 metres (16 ft 9 in)
Diameter0.48 metres (19 in) estimated [3]
Warhead450 kilograms (990 lb) BROACH (Bomb Royal Ordnance Augmented Charge)
EngineTurbomeca Microturbo TRI 60-30 turbojet, producing 5.4 kN thrust
Wingspan3 metres (9 ft 10 in)[4]
Operational
range
over 300 nmi (560 km; 350 mi) Lo-Lo profile [4][5][N 1]
Flight altitude30–40 metres (100–130 ft)
Maximum speed 1,000 km/h Mach 0.8-0.95 (depending on altitude)
Guidance
system
Inertial, GPS and TERPROM. Terminal guidance using imaging infrared DSMAC
Launch
platform
Tornado
Mirage
Rafale
Typhoon

Storm Shadow is an Anglo-French low-observable air-launched cruise missile, developed since 1994 by Matra and British Aerospace, and now manufactured by MBDA. Storm Shadow is the British name for the weapon; in French service it is called SCALP EG (Système de Croisière Autonome à Longue Portée – Emploi Général, meaning General Purpose Long Range Cruise Missile). The missile is based on the earlier MBDA Apache anti-runway missile, and differs in that it carries a warhead rather than submunitions.

Characteristics[]

The missile has a range of approximately 560 km (300 nmi; 350 mi),[6] is powered by a turbojet at Mach 0.8 and can be carried by the now retired RAF Tornado GR4, Italian Tornado IDS, Saab Gripen, Dassault Mirage 2000 and Dassault Rafale aircraft.[7] Storm Shadow was integrated with the Eurofighter Typhoon as part of the Phase 2 Enhancement (P2E) in 2015,[8][9] but will not be fitted to the F-35 Lightning II.[10] The 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. The missile weighs about 1,300 kilograms (2,900 lb), has a maximum body diameter of 48 centimetres (19 in) and a wingspan of 3 metres (120 in). Intended targets are command, control and communications; airfields; ports and power stations; AMS/ammunition storage; surface ships and submarines in port; bridges and other high value strategic targets.[7]

It is a fire and forget missile, programmed before launch. Once launched, the missile cannot be controlled or commanded to self-destroy and its target information cannot be changed. Mission planners programme the missile with the target air defences and target. The missile follows a path semi-autonomously, on a low flight path guided by GPS and terrain mapping to the target area.[11] Close to the target, the missile climbs and then bunts into a dive. Climbing to altitude is intended to achieve the best probability of target identification and penetration. During the bunt, 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 can not, and there is a high risk of collateral damage, it will fly to a crash point instead of risking inaccuracy.[12]

Recent enhancements include the capability to relay target information just before impact, usage of one-way (link back) data link, to relay battle damage assessment information back to the host aircraft. This upgrade is already under development under a French DGA contract. Another feature planned for insertion into the weapon is in-flight re-targeting capability, using a two-way data link.[13] Storm Shadow will be refurbished under the Selective Precision Effects At Range 4 (SPEAR 4) missile project.[14]

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.[15][16][17]

History[]

Storm Shadow at the Royal Air Force Museum London

British Aerospace and Matra were competing with McDonnell Douglas, Texas Instruments/Short Brothers, Hughes/Smiths Industries, Daimler-Benz Aerospace/Bofors, GEC-Marconi and Rafael.[18] The BAe/Matra Storm Shadow was selected on 25 June 1996.[19] A development and production contract was signed on 11 February 1997, by which time Matra and BAe had completed the merger of their missile businesses to form Matra BAe Dynamics.[20] France ordered 500 SCALP missiles in January 1998.[21]

A RAF Tornado GR4 carrying two Storm Shadow missiles under its fuselage

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[7] from a Mirage 2000N. The first British firing occurred on 25 May 2001 from a Tornado flying from BAE Warton.[citation needed]

RAF Tornados used Storm Shadow missiles operationally for the first time during the 2003 invasion of Iraq.[22] Although they were yet to officially enter service, "an accelerated testing schedule" saw them employed by the RAF's 617 Squadron in the conflict.[23][24][25]

During the NATO intervention in the Libyan Civil War, the Storm Shadow/SCALP-EG was fired at pro-Gaddafi targets by French Air Force Rafales [26][27] and Italian Air Force and Royal Air Force[28][29] Tornadoes. Targets included the Al Jufra Air Base.[30] and a military bunker in Sirte, the home town of Libyan leader, Muammar Gaddafi.[31] On the 14 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.[32]

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.[33] 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.

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.[34]

In July 2016, the UK's MOD has awarded a £28 million contract to support the Storm Shadow over the next 5 years.[35]

In October 2016 the UK Government confirmed UK-supplied missiles were used by Saudi Arabia in the conflict in Yemen.[36]

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.[37] 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.[38][39] Satellite images showed that the site was destroyed in the attack.[40] 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 Defense Forces,[41] 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”.[42] In response, the Russian Ministry of Defense, during a press conference in Moscow, presented parts of what they claimed was a downed Storm Shadow missile.[43][44]

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.[45][46]

Naval Version[]

Missile de Croisière Naval (Naval Cruise Missile)
TypeCruise missile
Service history
In service2014 (ships) ; 2017 (submarines)
Production history
ManufacturerMBDA
Unit cost€2.48m (US$3.19 million) [47] (FY2012)
Specifications
Mass1,400 kg (3,086 lb)
Length6.5 m (21 ft 4 in)
Diameter500 mm (20 in)
Effective firing range>1,000 km (620 mi; 540 nmi)[48]
EngineTR50 microturbo turbojet engine
Wingspan2.85 m (9 ft 4 in)
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
Accuracymetric
Launch
platform
FREMM frigates
Barracuda submarines
Scorpène submarines

MBDA developed a longer-range sea-launched variant for the French Navy, called Missile de Croisière Naval (MdCN standing for Naval Cruise Missile),[49] to be deployed on FREMM multipurpose frigates from 2015, and on Barracuda-class submarines from 2018,[50] using the A70 version of the Sylver launcher on the former and the 533 mm torpedo tubes on the latter.[citation needed] As the missile is not launched from a plane, as is SCALP/Storm Shadow, a booster has been included. The submarine version is encapsulated in an hydrodynamic hard container which is ejected when the missile reaches the surface. To provide a comparable range to the BGM-109 Tomahawk, the range of the MdCN (well over 1000 km) is significantly larger than the SCALP/Storm Shadow.[citation needed] The smaller Scorpène-class submarines can also carry the MdCN missile.[51]

France originally ordered 50 MdCN for its FREMM frigates in 2006, delivery was expected in 2012.[47] A further 100 surface-launched missiles were ordered in 2009, along with 50 for the planned Barracuda-class submarines.[47] The €1.2bn (FY2011) project was to deliver 200 missiles at a unit cost of €2.48m, or €6m including development costs.[47]

MdCN first flight test from a vertical launcher took place on 28 May 2010[52] and its first submarine launch test took place on 8 June 2011. MdCN's first complete qualification firing took place on 9 July 2012 at the Biscarosse test range. During its third development firing, MdCN met all its test requirements perfectly including the validation of the terminal autonomously guided phase with IR target scenario reconnaissance, which provides the weapon with its exceptionally high precision. On 24 October 2012, MdCN was tested "end-to-end" in the submarine launch configuration for the first time, adjacent to the Île du Levant test centre.[53] The MdCN entered service with FREMM frigates in February 2017.[54]

The MdCN was used in its first operational strike during the April 2018 bombing of Damascus and Homs against alleged Syrian chemical weapons production site, in coordination with the United States and United Kingdom, but without approval from the UN. In addition to nine Scalp EG missiles fired from French aircraft, the FREMM frigates Aquitaine, Provence, and Languedoc launched three MdCN missiles.[55] However, some failures were also reported.[56][57][58]

Operators[]

[59]

Storm Shadow/SCALP EG
 Egypt
100+ delivered for the Egyptian Air Force as part of the Dassault Rafale deal. Range under 300kms[60][61][62][63]
 France
500 ordered for the French Air Force in 1998. 50 MdCNs ordered in 2006 and a further 100 ordered in 2009 for the French Navy. As of 2016, France will reduce its stocks down 100 missiles.[64]
 Greece
Unknown number ordered for the Hellenic Air Force in 2000 and 2003.[65][66]
 Italy
200 ordered for the Aeronautica Militare in 1999.[citation needed]
 India
Unknown number ordered for the Indian Air Force in 2016 as part of the Dassault Rafale deal.[67]
 Qatar
140 ordered for the Qatar Air Force in 2015.[68]
 Saudi Arabia
Unknown number ordered for the Royal Saudi Air Force .[69][70][71]
 United Arab Emirates
Unknown number ordered for the United Arab Emirates Air Force in 1997. Known as Black Shaheen.[72][73][74]
 United Kingdom
The Independent estimated the order for the Royal Air Force to be in the range of 700-1000.[75]

See also[]

Notes[]

  1. ^ After release, the wings deploy and the weapon navigates its way to the target at low level using terrain profile matching and an integrated Global Positioning System (GPS). - Royal Air Force Oct 2014

References[]

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External links[]

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