Storm Shadow

Storm 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.

Russia-Ukraine WarUkraine

Conflict side: Ukraine
Built by: MBDA
Built in: United KingdomFrance

Storm Shadow, Air-launched cruise missile, Artillery

Profile

Type: Air-launched cruise missile
Conflict side: Ukraine
Origin: United Kingdom / France
Service note: Modern long-range precision strike

NATO precision firescruise missiledonated

Service History

In service: 2003-present
Used by: Ukrainian Air Force
Wars: Russia-Ukraine War

Production History

Designer: Matra BAe Dynamics / MBDA
Designed: 1990s-early 2000s
Built by: MBDA
Built in: United KingdomFrance
Variants: Storm Shadow, SCALP EG

Specifications

Launch platform: Air-launched from aircraft including Tornado, Typhoon, Mirage 2000, Rafale, and Ukrainian Su-24 integrations
Weight: 1,300 kg
Length: 5.10 m
Range: Reported 250-400 km class for SCALP EG/Storm Shadow; MBDA describes it as a long-range deep-strike weapon
Guidance: INS, GPS, terrain referencing, and terminal imaging infrared seeker
Warhead: Penetrating high-explosive warhead for hardened or high-value fixed targets

Conflict Usage

Russia-Ukraine War: Side: Ukraine
Donated by the United Kingdom to Ukraine in 2023 and employed from Ukrainian Su-24 strike aircraft for long-range precision attacks against Russian forces in occupied Ukrainian territory.

Storm Shadow Images

Storm Shadow, Air-launched cruise missile, Artillery - view 1

Storm Shadow, Air-launched cruise missile, Artillery - view 2

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Sources

STORM SHADOW / SCALPPublisher: MBDA | Note: Supports manufacturer, role, platform, weight, length, guidance, and general deep-strike background. | Accessed: 2026-06-19 SCALP EG / Storm Shadow / SCALP Naval / Black Shaheen / APACHE APPublisher: Center for Strategic and International Studies Missile Threat | Note: Supports additional Storm Shadow/SCALP dimensions, range class, warhead, propulsion, guidance, and service-history context. | Accessed: 2026-06-19 Defence Secretary Oral Statement on War in UkrainePublisher: GOV.UK | Note: Direct Russia-Ukraine War source for the United Kingdom's donation of Storm Shadow missiles to Ukraine and stated use against Russian forces in Ukrainian sovereign territory. | Accessed: 2026-06-19 Ukraine Conflict: Ukraine Employing Su-24 to Carry Storm Shadow, Defence Minister RevealsPublisher: Janes | Note: Direct Russia-Ukraine War source for Ukrainian Su-24 carriage and operational employment of Storm Shadow missiles received from the United Kingdom. | Accessed: 2026-06-19 BLW MBDA Storm Shadow Missile 2Publisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports public-domain image provenance for the primary Storm Shadow missile image. | Accessed: 2026-06-19 Tornado GR4 Carrying Storm Shadow MissilesPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports provenance for the gallery image showing Storm Shadow missiles carried by an aircraft. | Accessed: 2026-06-19