Western officials are already predicting that the Storm Shadow long-range missiles will be "a real game-changer in terms of range."

This will give Ukraine the opportunities it has been asking for since the start of the full-scale war.

Storm Shadow long-range missiles: what is known

The Storm Shadow's cruise missile is an aviation one.

It is launched from Tornado, Rafale, Mirage 2000 and Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft.

Currently, they are not in Ukraine's service, but it is important to understand that these are all light fighters - analogs of the MiG-29.

One aircraft can carry either a pair of missiles or only one missile.

The range of basic versions reaches 560 km.

However, the export Storm Shadow, which was most likely received by Ukraine, is different - its range is almost twice as short and is

250-290 km

.

More on such missiles will be discussed.

The Storm Shadow combat unit belongs to the BROACH class (from the English "Bomb Royal Ordnance Augmented Charge", which can be translated as "bomb with an enhanced charge").

The warhead consists of two parts: the starting cumulative charge when approaching the target cuts a passage through armor, concrete, ground, etc.

The next part penetrates inside the target and explodes inside with some delay.

So the Storm Shadow cruise missile has

a high degree of penetration into solid and armored targets

, which was previously available for laser-guided gravity bombs. 

Features of Storm Shadow missiles

These rockets are already quiet and fly low.

In addition, they have powerful radar countermeasures.

This makes them less visible to enemy air defense.

Storm Shadow can quietly fly up to the target, dive (diving angle is set depending on the target) and with a double charge crush even a very protected target.

Even in the deep rear of the enemy.

The missile supports inertial and GPS guidance, when approaching the target, a thermal head is used with the mode of recognizing and matching the topography of the area.

Storm Shadow can be used at any time of the day, as well as during difficult weather conditions and when the enemy uses electronic countermeasures.

General characteristics of Storm Shadow missiles

Photo: TSN.ua

History of Storm Shadow Missiles

The European company MBDA is engaged in the production of these cruise missiles.

The order for development appeared in 1995 from the military departments of France and Great Britain.

Storm Shadow was adopted by the British Air Force in 2003.

At the same time, the missiles received their first combat experience during the Iraq war, and were later used in Libya, Yemen and during the military operation against the extremists of the Islamic State. 

How many Storm Shadow missiles does Britain have?

Currently, it is known from open sources that the British Air Force has at its disposal about 700 such missiles and another 500 Storm Shadow units are in the warehouses of the French Air Force. 

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