Storm Shadow missiles, also known as Scalp EG in France, are long-range precision-guided air-launched missiles that were developed by a pan-European group of defence contractors. They are designed for strategic strikes at high-value targets from a considerable distance with a range of over 250 miles. A conventional high-explosive payload may be carried by the missiles.
The Storm Shadow missile carries an effective guidance system designed for accuracy in navigating to the target even in impossible conditions. By using GPS in conjunction with inertial navigation systems and terrain contour matching, it achieves precision. This technology allows it to strike the target with pin-point accuracy, thus making it very effective for penetrating defended positions and infrastructure.
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Why Do Storm Shadow Missiles Matter to Ukraine?
The admission of Storm Shadow missiles into the arsenal of Ukraine’s military is a significant turn in the conflict that has been unfolding. Here’s why these missiles are so crucial:
- Enhanced Striking Power: The long range and precision of Storm Shadow missiles allow Ukraine to strike key strategic targets deep within enemy territory. This capability is particularly valuable for targeting critical infrastructure, such as ammunition depots, command centers, and supply lines, which are crucial for sustaining military operations.
- Strategic Advantage: By incorporating Storm Shadow missiles, Ukraine gains a strategic advantage in terms of reach and impact. The ability to strike from a distance reduces the need for close engagements and allows Ukrainian forces to disrupt Russian operations without putting their own troops at immediate risk.
- Boosting Morale: The arrival of advanced weaponry like the Storm Shadow missiles can have a significant psychological effect. It boosts the morale of Ukrainian forces and signals to both allies and adversaries that Ukraine has access to sophisticated and powerful military technology.
- International Support: The provision of Storm Shadow missiles also reflects broader international support for Ukraine. Many Western countries have supplied military aid, including advanced weaponry, to help Ukraine defend itself against aggression. This support underscores the global commitment to Ukraine’s sovereignty and security.
- Deterrence: The presence of Storm Shadow missiles serves as a deterrent against further escalation by demonstrating that Ukraine has the capability to strike back effectively. This can influence strategic calculations and potentially lead to a shift in the operational approach of opposing forces.
Why Has the West Hesitated?
Washington is concerned that, although President Vladimir Putin’s previously threatened red lines have turned out to be empty bluffs, allowing Ukraine to hit targets deep inside Russia with Western-supplied missiles could provoke him into retaliating.
The fear in the White House is that hardliners in the Kremlin might respond by attacking missile transit points, such as an airbase in Poland. If this occurs, NATO’s Article 5 could be invoked, meaning the alliance would be at war with Russia.
Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, the White House has aimed to support Kyiv as much as possible without becoming directly involved in conflict with Moscow, which could potentially lead to a catastrophic nuclear exchange.
What Difference Could Storm Shadow Make?
Some believe that Storm Shadow missiles could make a difference, though it might be too little, too late. Kyiv has been requesting long-range Western missiles for some time, and Moscow has already taken precautions by moving bombers, missiles, and some supporting infrastructure further back from the Ukrainian border, beyond the range of Storm Shadow missiles.
Justin Crump of Sibylline notes that while Russian air defenses have evolved to counter Storm Shadow threats within Ukraine, countering them will be more challenging given the vastness of Moscow’s territory that could now be exposed to attack.
“This will complicate military logistics, command and control, and air support delivery. Even if Russian aircraft pull back further from Ukraine’s frontiers to avoid the missile threat, they will still face increased time and costs per sortie to the front line.”
Lifting the restrictions would unlock two big pluses for Ukraine,” says Matthew Savill, director of military science at the Rusi think tank: “Firstly, they might unlock another system, the Atacms. Secondly, they will create a problem for Russia in trying to place its valuable air defenses – it’s going to make it easier for the Ukrainians’ drones to get through.” Lastly, Storm Shadow is unlikely to change the course of the war, Savill claims.
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