Profile
- Type
- Air-launched cruise missile
- Conflict side
- Ukraine
- Origin
- France / United Kingdom
- Service note
- 2004-present service; supplied to Ukraine during the Russia-Ukraine War
Artillery
SCALP-EG
SCALP-EG is the French-service version of the Storm Shadow/SCALP air-launched cruise missile, an MBDA deep-strike weapon built for pre-planned attacks on high-value fixed targets such as hardened facilities and key infrastructure. In Ukrainian service it added a Western long-range precision-strike option launched from adapted Su-24 aircraft during the Russia-Ukraine War.
- Conflict side
- Ukraine
- Built by
- MBDA
- Built in
- FranceUnited Kingdom
Service History
- In service
- Operational with French, British, Italian and export users; Ukrainian use documented from 2023
- Used by
- French Air and Space Force, Ukrainian Air Force
- Wars
- Russia-Ukraine War
Production History
- Designer
- Matra BAe Dynamics / MBDA
- Designed
- 1990s development; SCALP EG/Storm Shadow in service from 2004
- Built by
- MBDA
- Built in
- FranceUnited Kingdom
- Unit cost
- Not publicly standardized
- Produced
- Late 1990s-present sustainment and production history
- Number built
- Not publicly standardized
- Variants
- SCALP-EG, Storm Shadow, Black Shaheen, SCALP Naval
Specifications
- Launch weight
- 1,300 kg
- Length
- 5.1 m
- Diameter
- 0.63 m
- Range
- Approximately 250-400 km for SCALP EG/Storm Shadow in CSIS reference data
- Warhead
- 400 kg high-explosive penetrating warhead
- Guidance
- INS, GPS, terrain referencing and terminal infrared image matching
- Launch platforms
- Rafale, Mirage 2000, Tornado, Eurofighter Typhoon and adapted Ukrainian Su-24 aircraft
Conflict Usage
- Russia-Ukraine War
- Side: Ukraine
France announced SCALP cruise-missile deliveries to Ukraine in July 2023 for deep strikes against Russian military infrastructure on Ukrainian territory; by August 2023 the French SCALP-EG variant was documented in Ukrainian Su-24 service.
Related Weapon Systems
HarpoonCoastal and anti-ship cruise missile systemHarpoon is a U.S.-origin all-weather anti-ship cruise missile family built around active radar terminal homing and sea-skimming flight. In the Russia-Ukraine War, Ukraine received land-based Harpoon coastal defense systems and adapted truck-launched RGM-84 missiles to threaten Russian surface ships operating near the Black Sea coast.
Kh-101Air-launched cruise missileThe Kh-101 is a Russian conventional air-launched cruise missile in the Kh-101/Kh-102 family, designed for long-range standoff attacks from strategic bombers. Its low-altitude flight profile, turbofan propulsion, satellite/inertial navigation, and terminal guidance make it one of Russia's principal long-range strike weapons in the Russia-Ukraine War.
Kh-22Air-launched supersonic anti-ship cruise missileThe Kh-22, NATO reporting name AS-4 Kitchen, is a large Soviet-era air-launched cruise missile built for long-range attacks on carrier groups and other major targets. Designed by Raduga for bomber carriage, it combines a liquid-fuel rocket motor, supersonic speed, and a very large conventional or nuclear warhead. In the Russia-Ukraine War, Russia has repurposed the missile family for land-attack strikes, where its anti-ship guidance heritage and heavy payload make it especially destructive when used against urban targets.
Kh-59Air-launched tactical cruise missileThe Kh-59 Ovod is a Soviet/Russian air-launched tactical cruise missile family developed by Raduga for standoff strikes from tactical aircraft. Later Kh-59M, Kh-59MK, Kh-59MK2, and Kh-59MKM variants added turbojet propulsion, larger warheads, anti-ship or land-attack guidance options, and longer range. Russia has used Kh-59-series guided air-launched missiles during the Russia-Ukraine War as part of mixed missile and drone attacks.
Kh-69Air-launched land-attack cruise missileThe Kh-69 is a Russian subsonic air-launched land-attack cruise missile developed by Raduga within Tactical Missiles Corporation for precision strikes against fixed targets. It is associated with tactical aircraft such as the Su-34, Su-35, and Su-57, uses inertial, satellite, radar-altimeter, and electro-optical terminal guidance, and has been documented in Russian strikes during the Russia-Ukraine War.
Storm ShadowAir-launched cruise missileStorm Shadow is the UK name for the Franco-British Storm Shadow/SCALP air-launched cruise missile, a low-observable deep-strike weapon built by MBDA for precision attacks on hardened or high-value fixed targets. In the Russia-Ukraine War, UK-supplied missiles gave Ukraine a longer-range conventional strike option that was integrated onto Su-24 aircraft.Sources
STORM SHADOW / SCALPPublisher: MBDA | Note: Manufacturer page supporting MBDA background, deep-strike role, weight, length, launch platforms and guidance description. | Accessed: 2026-06-20SCALP EG / Storm Shadow / SCALP Naval / Black Shaheen / APACHE APPublisher: Center for Strategic and International Studies Missile Threat | Note: Reference source for SCALP EG origin, variants, operational status, dimensions, launch weight, warhead, propulsion and range. | Accessed: 2026-06-20Sommet de l'OTAN a VilniusPublisher: Elysee | Note: Supports direct Russia-Ukraine War conflict use by documenting France's decision to deliver SCALP cruise missiles to Ukraine for deep-strike capability. | Accessed: 2026-06-20French SCALP-EG Cruise Missiles Officially In Use In UkrainePublisher: The War Zone | Note: Supports direct Russia-Ukraine War conflict use by documenting SCALP-EG in Ukrainian service on Su-24 aircraft after France's transfer decision. | Accessed: 2026-06-20File:Storm Shadow p1220865.jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Image provenance and licensing source for the Storm Shadow/SCALP missile photo by David Monniaux, available under Creative Commons share-alike licensing. | Accessed: 2026-06-20