Storm Shadow Missile

  • 24 Oct 2025

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In News:

  • Ukraine has reportedly carried out a long-range missile strike on a Russian chemical plant in Bryansk using UK-made Storm Shadow cruise missiles, marking one of the most significant deep-penetration attacks into Russian territory since the beginning of the war.
  • The strike, which reportedly bypassed Moscow’s air defence systems, triggered retaliatory drone and missile attacks by Russia on Ukrainian cities, including Kyiv and Dnipropetrovsk, leading to civilian casualties and power outages.
  • The episode underscores the escalation in the Ukraine–Russia conflict and highlights the growing strategic role of Western-supplied precision weaponry in modern warfare.

About the Storm Shadow Missile

  • Type: Long-range, air-launched stealth cruise missile
  • Developed by:United Kingdom and France (known as SCALP EG in France)
  • Manufacturer:MBDA Systems
  • Operational Since: Early 2000s
  • Primary Role: Designed to destroy high-value, well-protected targets such as:
    • Airbases
    • Radar installations
    • Command and control centres
    • Port and fuel storage facilities

The missile’s combination of low observability, precision guidance, and deep-penetration warhead makes it one of the most advanced conventional strike weapons in the world.

Technical Specifications and Features

Feature

Details

Length

~5.1 metres

Wingspan

~3 metres

Weight

~1,300 kg

Warhead

450 kg BROACH (Bomb Royal Ordnance Augmented Charge) — capable of penetrating hardened bunkers

Propulsion

Turbojet engine

Speed

Subsonic (~Mach 0.8)

Range

Over 550 km

Guidance System

Combination of GPS, Inertial Navigation (INS), Terrain-following radar, and infrared terminal seeker for pinpoint accuracy

Flight Profile

Low-altitude, terrain-hugging trajectory to evade radar detection

Stealth and Precision Capabilities

  • Designed for “fire and forget” operations, requiring minimal pilot input after launch.
  • Terrain-following capability allows the missile to fly under radar coverage, reducing detection probability.
  • The infrared imaging seeker enables precise terminal guidance even in adverse weather conditions.
  • Known for its “deep-strike capability”, allowing it to destroy hardened and strategic installations from a safe stand-off distance.

Global Operators

The Storm Shadow/SCALP EG is in service with several countries, including:United Kingdom, France, Italy, Greece, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, United Arab Emirates and India – where it is integrated with the Rafale fighter jets operated by the Indian Air Force (IAF), enhancing India’s precision-strike capabilities.