Video of Ukrainian Su‑24 launching Storm Shadow missile emerges
On social media, a video emerged showing the moment when Storm Shadow/SCALP-EG missiles were launched from a Ukrainian Su-24. This is one of the most powerful weapons reaching the frontlines as part of Western support.
11:29 AM EDT, August 4, 2024
As highlighted on the Ukrainian portal Defence Express, the published video is exceptional. It is the first official film by the Ukrainian Air Force depicting the use of Storm Shadow/SCALP-EG, and simultaneously, the first film of the combat use of this weapon ever. So far, official video materials have primarily come from MBDA, the missile manufacturer.
Ukrainian Su-24 with powerful weaponry
Storm Shadow and SCALP-EG are twin long-range cruise missiles the United Kingdom and France supply to the front, respectively. They can strike targets up to approximately 310 miles away.
An advanced inertial and satellite navigation system is used for targeting. After launch, these missiles reach a speed of about 0.9 Mach (over 620 mph). They are made using stealth technology and can fly at very low altitudes, making them difficult for enemy radars to detect. Videos have already been published showing the ineffectiveness of Russian anti-aircraft systems against these missiles.
An important feature is their high destructive power. Each Storm Shadow/SCALP-EG is over 16 feet long and weighs about 2,900 lbs, with approximately 1,000 lbs allocated to the BROACH warhead (Bomb Royal Ordnance Augmented Charge). Depending on the attacking party's needs, it can operate in several modes and explode on impact, with a delay, or in the air, creating a barrage of destructive fragments.
Modified Ukrainian Su-24
Unsurprisingly, the video released by the Ukrainian Air Force shows a Su-24 aircraft. It was previously confirmed that these aircraft would be appropriately modified to carry British and French cruise missiles. As Przemysław Juraszek, a journalist from Wirtualna Polska, explained, this was achieved by using pylons borrowed from the Panavia Tornado aircraft.
Storm Shadow/SCALP-EG is a weapon that has proven to be a significant enhancement for the Ukrainian army. These missiles have been used, among other things, to attack the Chonhar Bridge and the port in Sevastopol, where they managed to hit the submarine "Rostov-on-Don."
