In News:

During Operation Sindoor, the Indian Air Force reportedly employed SCALP missiles launched from Rafale fighter jets to target high-value terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).

What is the SCALP Missile?

• The SCALP (Système de CroisièreAutonome à Longue Portée) is a long-range, air-launched cruise missile designed for deep-strike missions.
• It is also known by its British designation, Storm Shadow.
• Developed jointly by France and the United Kingdom, it is built for precision attacks on strategic, fixed, and fortified targets.
• Global Operators: The missile is in operational use by the air forces of:India, France, United Kingdom, Egypt, Italy, Greece, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and UAE.
• Indian Integration: The Indian Air Force has integrated the SCALP missile with its Rafale fleet, enhancing India's capacity to conduct long-range precision strikes with minimal collateral damage.

Key Features:

Feature                                              Description

Range                                                 Approximately 500 km

Warhead                                         450 kg high-explosive, designed to penetrate hardened structures

Weight                                              Around 1,300 kg

Dimensions                                   Length: ~5 metres; Wingspan: ~3 metres

Speed                                                Subsonic (around Mach 0.8)

Guidance Systems                  Combined GPS/INS navigation, terrain-following radar, and

                                                                infrared homing for terminal precision

Stealth Capability                   Optimized for low-altitude flight to evade radar detection

Accuracy                                        Uses image-based terminal guidance to match

                                                  preloaded target images

All-weather Capability       Can operate under diverse weather conditions