Storm Shadow
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Template:Infobox Missile Storm Shadow is an Anglo-French air-launched cruise missile, manufactured by MBDA and used by Britain, France, and Italy.
Storm Shadow is the British name for the weapon; in French service it is called SCALP EG (Emploi Général, meaning General Purpose).
The stealthy missile has a range in excess of 150 mi (250 km), is powered by a turbojet at mach 0.8 and can be carried by the Tornado GR4, Italian Tornado IDS, Eurofighter Typhoon, Harrier GR7, Mirage 2000 and Rafale aircraft. The warhead features an initial penetrating charge to clear soil or enter a bunker, then a variable delay fuse to control detonation of the main warhead. The missile weighs about 1,300 kg has a maximum body diameter of 1 m and a wingspan of 3 m. Intended targets are command, control and communications; airfield facilities; port facilities; AMS/ammunition storage; ships/submarines in ports and bridges.
Mission planners program the missile with the target, air defence locations and planned ground path, then the missile uses a low terrain-hugging flight path guided by GPS and terrain matching to the proximity of the target. Once there the missile commences a bunt (climb) manoeuver to an altitude intended to achieve the best probability of target acquisition and penetration. During the bunt, the nose cone is jettisoned to allow a high resolution infrared camera to see the target area. The missile attempts to match the target image with the planned target. If it can't and there is a high risk of collateral damage, it will steer to a pre-designated crash point instead of risking an inaccurate attack with undesired consequences.
Matra BAe Dynamics (UK) was the main UK contractor and Matra BAe Dynamics (France) the main French contractor. The two parts of the same company handled the international co-operation work, reducing project management overhead.
History
Storm Shadow (SCALP EG) is a based on the earlier MBDA Apache anti-runway missile, and differs from it in that it carries a disrupting charge designed to be more penetrating (like the USA-built Tomahawk missile).
The initial contract for Storm Shadow was placed with Matra BAe Dynamics by the UK Ministry of Defence in February 1997.
In January 1998, France ordered 500 SCALP missiles.
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. The launching aircraft was a Mirage 2000 N.
On May 25, 2001 the first firing from a Tornado took place, from BAE Warton in the UK.
Storm Shadow entered service with the Royal Air Force in 2002.
It was first used operationally during the 2003 invasion of Iraq by No. 617 Squadron.
MBDA are studying a longer range sea-launched variant, to be called SCALP NAVAL, to be launched from frigates and submarines using the SYLVER launcher.
The Storm Shadow may form part of the RAF's Future Offensive Air System, possibly using a non-penetrating aircraft (e.g. C-130J or A400M) deploying large numbers of the missile.
Inventory / variants
The following countries have ordered Storm Shadow / SCALP, in these quantities:
- France 500, order in January 1998
- Greece 56, ordered in August 2000
- Italy 200
- United Arab Emirates Undisclosed number—the UAE variant is called Black Shaheen.
- UK 900
External websites
- MBDA's Storm Shadow / SCALP page (http://www.mbda.net/escalp.html)
- RAF long-range air-to surface missiles page (http://www.raf.mod.uk/equipment/a_slong.html)
- FAS (http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/missile/row/casom.htm)
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