SCALP. What is known about the missiles, the production technologies of which Britain and France are transferring to Ukraine
UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham, who arrived in Ukraine on Independence Day, brought important news in the field of missile armaments. The British government has allowed the defense company MBDA to declassify information about British components of long-range SCALP missiles, writes the BBC Ukrainian service.
Photo: Getty Image
SCALP is the French version of the British Storm Shadow. Both missiles were developed using joint British and French technologies. The transfer of this data should help France and Ukraine advance in establishing SCALP production directly in Ukraine.
As noted by the British Prime Minister's office, this step continues London's policy, which in 2023 was the first to transfer long-range strike weapons to Ukraine for defense. Now, the discussion is not only about supplying ready-made missiles. Ukraine must get the opportunity to produce them partially or completely on its own territory.
Declassifying information about British components should help the French and Ukrainian sides advance in establishing local production lines.
This is also part of wider UK efforts to accelerate the development of modern and relatively inexpensive long-range strike capabilities for Ukraine within the framework of Project Brakestop.
The production of long-range missiles directly in Ukraine could potentially reduce Kyiv's dependence on ready-made ammunition from abroad and allow for a faster increase in their quantity.
Russia, through the Kremlin spokesman, has already condemned this step by the UK.
Storm Shadow/SCALP missile at an exhibition in Britain, 2018. Photo: Getty Images
What is known about the missiles
The long-range SCALP missile weighs 1300 kg and is 5.10 m long.
It is capable of hitting targets at a distance of about 240 km deep into Russia — this is not as great a range as Ukrainian drones, capable of striking deep rear areas, but it is an important step that demonstrates the readiness of international partners to share weapons technologies.
The manufacturer notes that the missiles are designed to destroy pre-defined stationary targets.
They can be used day and night in all weather conditions, and they are equipped with modern navigation systems.
As reported by Missilery, the SCALP missile's design provides for reduced radar visibility, meaning it is more difficult for enemy ground radar to detect. The missile's speed reaches 1500 km/h.
How the Air Force of Ukraine uses them
In May 2023, the UK announced the transfer of Storm Shadow missiles to Ukraine. In July of the same year, France stated that it would provide SCALP missiles to Ukraine.
It is known that the missiles provided by the UK can be launched from military aircraft, and those provided by France — also from ships and submarines.
In Ukraine, these missiles have been adapted for launch from old Soviet Su-24M bombers. Thanks to these missiles, the Air Force is striking many areas of Russian territory and occupied territories.
“No one thought that the Su-24 aircraft would become a powerful missile carrier and master 'Storms' and 'SCALPs', performing fire missions deep behind enemy lines,” said Oleksandr Dyakov, Commander of Air Force Aviation, on August 22.
Ukrainian Air Force Su-24 with a Storm Shadow/SCALP missile. Photo: Air Force
Storm Shadow cruise missiles were developed by the European multinational company MBDA in the 1990s and entered service with the British, French, and other armies in the early 2000s.
“Storm Shadow/SCALP is a long-range air weapon, conventional in nature, designed for deep strikes in pre-planned attacks on high-value stationary targets,” states the manufacturer's website description.
“The original missile, developed with active use of stealth technology, has a range of up to 560 km. The total weight of the SCALP missile is 1300 kg, of which 450 kg is the warhead,” describes the missile the Ukrainian publication Defense Express.
It is known that Ukraine was supposed to receive an export variant of Storm Shadow from the UK with a range of about 250 km. This is slightly less than the range of American ATACMS ground-to-ground tactical missile systems for HIMARS launches. However, Washington refused to transfer them, presumably due to fears of escalation resulting from possible strikes on Russia.
“To penetrate air defense, this missile uses a classic low-altitude, subsonic flight profile. The entire suite of modern systems is responsible for targeting accuracy — inertial and satellite navigation systems, and a digital scene matching area correlator (DSMAC) mode,” Defense Express describes its characteristics.