Storm Shadow missiles successfully integrated into Ukrainian Su-24 bombers, MBDA CEO says
Storm Shadow (Getty Images)
Storm Shadow missiles have been integrated into Ukrainian Su-24 bombers. However, this process took a considerable amount of time, reports Eric Beranger, CEO of MBDA.
According to him, due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, there has been a significant increase in global demand for various types of weapons and their modifications. Beranger has noted that his company was able to modify Storm Shadow/SCALP for Su-24 aircraft in a relatively short period. He believes that under normal circumstances, such work would have taken about six years. However, the rapid modification was influenced by the fact that his company essentially received a "carte blanche" in its work.
Earlier information indicated that a pylon from the Tornado strike aircraft was used for installing Storm Shadow. The same company had previously claimed that they could adapt Taurus missiles to the Su-24, and it would take them about six months for that.
Usage of Storm Shadow
In late September 2023, there were reports that Ukraine had supposedly used Storm Shadow missiles to attack the headquarters of the Black Sea Fleet in Sevastopol.
Attack on Russian headquarters in Sevastopol
On September 22, an attack was carried out on the headquarters of the Russian Black Sea Fleet in Sevastopol. Videos were posted online showing significant damage to the building and a column of smoke.
Later, the Centre Strategic Communications of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine confirmed that the Ukrainian military was behind the attack.
More details about the attack can be found in the material from RBC-Ukraine.
Supply of missiles to Ukraine
In May, it became known that the United Kingdom was transferring much more powerful Storm Shadow/SCALP EG air-to-ground cruise missiles to Ukraine. Two months later, France also announced the delivery of similar weaponry.
The range of this Franco-British aviation missile in the basic model can reach 560 km. However, the Ukrainian army likely received the export variant, limited to 250-290 km. The combat part of these missiles weighs about 450 kg. This is significantly more than in our strike UAVs (their combat load does not exceed 75 kg, in Shahed - about 50) and GMLRS for HIMARS (approximately 90 kg).
