| Storm Shadow/SCALP EG | |
|---|---|
 A missile displayed in theRAF Museum, London | |
| Type | Air-launched cruise missile |
| Place of origin | France United Kingdom |
| Service history | |
| In service | 2003–present |
| Used by | Seeoperators |
| Wars | |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Matra BAe Dynamics |
| Designed | 1994–2001 |
| Manufacturer | MBDA |
| Unit cost | £2,000,000 (FY2023) (US$2,500,000)[1] |
| 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 | MultistageBROACH penetration warhead |
| Warhead weight | 450 kilograms (990 lb) |
| Engine | Microturbo TRI 60-30 turbojet 5.4 kN (1,200 lbf) |
Operational range | 550 km (342 mi; 297 nmi)[2] |
| Maximum speed | Mach 0.95 (323 m/s; 1,060 ft/s) |
Guidance system | GPS,INS,IIR &TERPROM |
Steering system | 6tailplanes (4 vertical & 2 horizontal) |
| Transport | Mirage 2000,Rafale,Su-24,Tornado,Typhoon,Gripen |
| References | Janes[3] &The Telegraph[4][5] |
TheStorm Shadow is aFranco-Britishlow-observable, long-rangeair-launched cruise missile developed since 1994 byMatra andBritish Aerospace, and now manufactured byMBDA.[6] "Storm Shadow" is the weapon's British name; in France it is calledSCALP-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-developedApacheanti-runway cruise missile, but differs in that it carries a unitary warhead instead ofcluster munitions.[7]
To meet the requirement issued by theFrench 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 standoff ranges with even greater precision, MBDA France began development of theMissile de Croisière Naval ("Naval Cruise Missile") orMdCN in 2006 to complement the SCALP. The first firing test took place in July 2013 and was successful.[8] The MdCN has been operational on FrenchFREMM frigates since 2017 and also equips France'sBarracuda nuclear attack submarines, which entered operational service in 2022. However, MdCN is not a derivative of the Storm Shadow, but a distinct missile.
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.[9][10]
Since 2023, during theRussian invasion of Ukraine, Storm Shadow missiles have been supplied to Ukraine in large quantities. Multiple Russian ships have been either sunk or heavily damaged by them.[11][12][13]
France, the UK andItaly are together developing theFuture Cruise/Anti-Ship Weapon (FC/ASW) to replace SCALP/Storm Shadow and each nation's respectiveanti-ship missiles by 2028 and 2034.
On 10 July 2025, MBDA announced that it was resuming production of SCALP/Storm Shadow missiles in 2025, some 15 years since receiving the last order, with the possibility of more missiles being supplied to Ukraine.[14]
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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 aMicroturbo TRI 60-30turbojet engine and has a range of approximately 250 km (130 nmi; 160 mi).[15]
The weapon can be launched from a number of different aircraft—theSaab Gripen,Dassault Mirage 2000,Dassault Rafale, thePanavia Tornado, both the Italian Tornado IDS and formerly the British Tornado GR4 (now retired),[16] and a modifiedSukhoi Su-24.[17] Storm Shadow was integrated with theEurofighter Typhoon as part of the Phase 2 Enhancement (P2E) in 2015,[18][19] but will not be fitted to theF-35 Lightning II.[20]
The Storm Shadow'sBROACH warhead features an initial penetrating charge to clear soil or enter a bunker, then a variable delayfuze to controldetonation 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.
The missile isfire 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 programme the weapon with details of the target and its air defences. The missile follows a path semi-autonomously, on a low flight path guided byGPS andterrain mapping to the target area.[21] Close to the target, the missile climbs to increase itsfield of view and improve penetration, matches the target stored image with itsIR camera and then dives into the target.[22][23]
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 resolutionthermographic 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 ofcollateral damage, the missile is capable of flying to a crash point instead of risking inaccuracy.[22]
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, inflight re-targeting capability using a two-way data link was planned.[24] In 2016, it was announced that Storm Shadow would be refurbished under the Selective Precision Effects At Range 4 (SPEAR 4) missile project,[25][26] with the upgrade being completed in 2022.[27]
Some reports suggest a reduced capability version complying withMissile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) restrictions was created for export, for example to theUnited Arab Emirates.[28][29][30]
The missile relies on classified US-owned cartographic data, using Terrain Contour Matching orTERCOM, to guide the missile to the target. This gives the US government veto of any sales to foreign countries underITAR.[31] In 2018 the French government tried to bypass this by creating a "ITAR-free" version of the missile for sale to Egypt that didn't use TERCOM. The missiles would have relied solely on GPS and inertial navigation systems to get to the target, making the missile more vulnerable to electronic warfare.[32][33] An issue in Ukraine, where Russian jams GPS signals, is that US approval and data is necessary for the missiles to operate to peak performance.[31][34]
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 fromMcDonnell Douglas,Texas Instruments/Short Brothers,Hughes/Smiths Industries,Daimler-Benz Aerospace/Bofors,GEC-Marconi andRafael.[35][36] The Storm Shadow design was based on Matra'sApache anti-runway cruise missile.[36] 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 formMatra BAe Dynamics.[37] France ordered 500 SCALP missiles in January 1998.[38]
The first successful fully guided firing of the Storm Shadow/SCALP EG took place at the CELBiscarosse range in France at the end of December 2000[16] from a Mirage 2000N.
The first flight of Storm Shadow missiles on theEurofighter Typhoon took place on 27 November 2013 atDecimomannu Air Base in Italy, and was performed byAlenia Aermacchi using instrumented production aircraft 2.[39]
The SCALP EG and Storm Shadow are identical except for how they integrate with the aircraft.[40]
In July 2016, the UK's MoD awarded a £28 million contract to support the Storm Shadow over the next five years.[41]
RAF Tornados used Storm Shadow missiles operationally for the first time during the2003 invasion of Iraq.[42] Although they were yet to officially enter service, "an accelerated testing schedule" saw them employed by the RAF's617 Squadron in the conflict.[43][44][45]
During the2011 military intervention in Libya, the Storm Shadow/SCALP-EG was fired at pro-Gaddafi targets byFrench Air Force Rafales[46][47] andItalian Air Force andRoyal Air Force[48][49] Tornados. Targets included theAl Jufra Air Base,[50] and a military bunker inSirte, the home town of Libyan leaderMuammar Gaddafi.[51] 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.[52]
French aircraft fired 12 SCALP missiles atISIS targets inSyria as part ofOperation 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.[53] On Sunday 26 June 2016 the RAF used four Storm Shadow missiles against an ISIS bunker inIraq. 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 theconflict in Yemen.[54]
In April 2018 the UK Government announced they used Storm Shadow missiles deployed byPanavia Tornado GR4s tostrike a chemical weapon facility in Syria.[55] According to US Marine Corps 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.[56][57] Satellite images showed that the site was destroyed in the attack.[58] The Pentagon said that no missiles had been intercepted, and that the raids were "precise and overwhelming".[59] 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.[60]
On 11 March 2021, two Royal Air Force Typhoon FGR4 jets operating out ofRAF Akrotiri,Cyprus hit a cave complex south west of the city ofErbil in northern Iraq, where a significant number ofISIS fighters were reported, marking the first combat use of the Storm Shadow from the Typhoon.[61][62]
On 11 May 2023, the United Kingdom announced that it was supplying Storm Shadows to theUkrainian military during theRussian invasion of Ukraine. This followed a pledge from the UK in February 2023 to send Ukraine long-range missiles in response toRussian strikes against Ukrainian infrastructure. Ukraine has insisted it would not use such weapons on Russian territory.UK Defence MinisterBen Wallace emphasised the delivery as a "calibrated, proportionate response to Russia's escalation", noting Russian use of even longer-range munitions including theKh-47M2hypersonic missile,3M-54 Kalibr cruise missile, andShahed-136 one-way attack drone.[63][64]
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 occupiedCrimea to interrupt Russia's ability to support the frontline.[65] 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.[66] The UK on 18 May confirmed Ukraine had already successfully used the Storm Shadow.[67] Although no information was publicly disclosed regarding when exactly the French missiles were delivered to Ukraine, Ukraine's ambassador to France, Vadym Omelchenko, confirmed in an interview with LB.ua on 22 August 2023 that all SCALP missiles promised by French presidentEmmanuel Macron had been delivered already, likely by the time of the latter's announcement in May. Omelchenko further stated that the first batch of missiles (reported by some outlets to number 50 units) had more than proven its worth and that supplies of SCALP batches by France would continue.[68][69] Previously, on 6 August, a few days after the attack on the Chongar Strait railway bridge, the SCALP's operational status in Ukraine had visually been confirmed as were its use in the attack and its successful integration to UkrainianSu-24 bombers.[70]
Russia claimed Ukraine used Storm Shadow missiles to strike industrial sites inLuhansk on 13 May 2023, just two days after their delivery had been announced.[71] According to a report by Russian news outletIzvestia, the cruise missiles are launched from specially modifiedSu-24 strike aircraft and fly under the cover ofMiG-29 andSu-27 fighters equipped withAGM-88 HARMs. Ukrainian command also usesUAVs andADM-160 MALD decoys to divert Russian air defenses and protect the aircraft and ordnance from being intercepted.[72]Ukraine's Minister of DefenseOleksii Reznikov confirmed the Su-24 as theUkrainian Air Force's Storm Shadow launch platform, tweeting a photo of a Su-24MR with a missile on each of its inboard underwing pylons.[73][74] The pylons use an adaptor derived from retired RAFTornado GR4 aircraft.[75]
Reznikov said at the end of May that the missiles had hit 100% of their targets,[76][77] althoughRussia's Defence Ministry has claimed to have shot some down.[78][79]
On 12 June, a strike which involved the Storm Shadow killed Major GeneralSergey Goryachev inZaporizhzhia Oblast. At the time he was Chief of Staff of the35th Combined Arms Army.[80] On 22 June, theChonhar road bridge connecting Crimea withKherson Oblast was struck by a Storm Shadow missile to interrupt Russian logistics.[81][82] A largely intact Storm Shadow crashed in Zaporizhzhia in early July.TASS claimed Russian forces had shot it down and recovered the wreckage to study the missile's design and help develop countermeasures to it.[83][84]
On 9 July 2023, Storm Shadow/SCALP missile was shot down by Russian air defence and captured later.[85]
On 29 July 2023, a Storm Shadow or SCALP missile hit the Chongar Strait railway bridge linking occupied Crimea with the Kherson Oblast, landing between the two tracks on the bridge approach.[86][87]
On 13 September 2023, Storm Shadow and/or SCALP missiles were used in a strike against theSevastopol port,[88][89][11] seriously damaging theRostov na Donu submarine and seriously damaging (according to some sources, beyond repair[90]) theRopucha-class landing shipMinsk.[91][92][12]
On 22 September 2023, at least three Storm Shadow and/or SCALP missileshit theBlack Sea Fleet headquarters in Sevastopol.[93][94][95] According to the Ukraine military, the missile attacktargeted a meeting of the Russian Navy's leadership. "After the hit of the headquarters of the Russian Black Sea Fleet, 34 officers were killed, including the commander of the Russian Black Sea Fleet", they said. While no confirmation ofSokolov's alleged death is known, neither has any reliable source depicted him as alive and well since the attack took place. They also claimed that the strike wounded at least 100 other Russian service personnel.[96]
On 26 December 2023 it is believed two Storm Shadow and/or SCALP missiles were launched against the Russian occupied port ofFeodosia with theRussian landing ship Novocherkassk being hit and turned into a burning wreck.[97][98][13]
At a news conference on 28 May 2024, French President Macron said he permitted Ukraine to use SCALP missiles to strike targets inside Russia, a major departure from previous guidelines that restricted the use of foreign-supplied weapons only to occupied territory. This expansion of use is still restricted to neutralisation of military facilities being used for attacks into Ukraine.[99]
In July 2024, the British Prime MinisterKeir Starmer announced that the British government would allow the defensive use of Storm Shadow missiles on targets inside Russia.[100]
On 25 September 2024, Russian PresidentVladimir Putin warned the West that if attacked with conventional weapons Russia would consider anuclear retaliation,[101] in an apparent deviation from theno first use doctrine.[102] Putin went on to threatennuclear powers that if they supported another country's attack on Russia, then they would be considered participants in such an aggression.[103][104] Experts say Putin's announcement is aimed at dissuading the United States, the United Kingdom and France from allowing Ukraine to use Western-supplied long-range missiles such as theATACMS and Storm Shadow instrikes against Russia.[105]
On 20 November 2024, Ukraine was reported to have fired British Storm Shadow missiles into Russia for the first time.The use of Storm Shadow missiles comes after Russia launched a counteroffensive in Kursk, which was invaded by Ukrainian troops in August. It also follows theBiden administration's decision to give Ukraine the green light to use US-made long-range missiles inside Russia earlier that week. Kyiv first used ATACMS to strike a military facility inBryansk early on 19 November.[106]
It was later reported that the 20 November strikes had hit an underground military facility in Maryino,Kursk Oblast, allegedly killing Russian generalLt-Gen Valery Solodchuk, some other Russian officers, and North Korean troops. Russian authorities did not confirm the losses and there has been no independent verification yet.[107][108]
TheIndian Air Force deployedRafale jets armed with SCALP missiles andAASM Hammer bombs in an operation to strike 9 targets with precision during the 23 minute-longOperation Sindoor, early in the morning of 7 May 2025.[109][110][111]
On 10 May 2025, the Indian Air Force struck 11 air bases across Pakistan using various weapons, including SCALP missiles.PAF Base Nur Khan andPAF Base Mushaf were hit; at Nur Khan, PAF’s next-generation mobile mission control centres were destroyed, while Mushaf's runway sustained major damage. One Pakistan Air Force personnel was also killed in these strikes.[112][113][114][115]
Developed by France for export to the United Arab Emirates for use with itsMirage 2000, modifications were made to reduce the range reportedly to 290 km (160 nmi; 180 mi) in order to comply withMissile Technology Control Regime guidelines.[40]
In 2006,MBDA France[116] began the development of a more potent deep strike naval cruise missile to be deployed on a new series of French warships and submarines for land-attack operations in order to complement the SCALP/Storm Shadow. ThisMissile de Croisière Naval (MdCN),[117] formerly dubbedSCALP Naval, became operational on the FrenchFREMM multipurpose frigates in 2017[118][119] and onBarracuda-class submarines in June 2022,[120] using the A70 version of the Sylver launcher on the former[121] and the 533 mm torpedo tubes on the latter.[122] 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.[123]
Despite the fact that it was previously called SCALP Naval, it is not a variant of the Storm Shadow, has no stealth shaping, but is a more conventional, longer range sea-launched cruise missile, very similar to Tomahawk.
Between 2016 and 2018, France and the United Kingdom began jointly developing a replacement for Storm Shadow/SCALP for both theFrench Air and Space Force and theRoyal Air Force, as well as theExocet andHarpoonanti-ship missiles for theFrench Navy andRoyal Navy. As of 2022, the programme was examining two complementary concepts; a subsonic,low observable missile and asupersonic, highly manoeuvrable missile.[124] On 20 June 2023 at theParis Air Show, Italy signed a letter of intent to join the programme.[125] Italy confirmed its initial funding contribution in November and this also came with the announcement that the programme would produce a deep-strike land-attack missile by 2028 and an anti-ship missile by 2034.[126]
Croatia
Egypt
France
Greece
Italy
India
Qatar
Saudi Arabia
Ukraine
United Arab Emirates
United KingdomBen Wallace: We could use Storm Shadows just using GPS, right, just using satellite, but the resilience technologies we have in it relies on other technologies that puts us in areas that we have to rely on the United States in certain environments, and that's just the reality of it.
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.
