MBDA to regenerate French, UK Storm Shadow/SCALP EG missiles

Robin Hughes, London – IHS Jane’s Missiles & Rockets

27 February 2017

Key Points

Mid-life refurbishment will address obsolescence and to replace life-expired components
Modernisation of the missiles will leverage a joint design phase launched in July 2014

The French and UK ministries of defence have placed a joint contract on MBDA for the mid-life refurbishment of their Storm Shadow/SCALP EG (Système de Croisière Autonome à Longue Portée – Emploi Général) long-range conventionally-armed deep strike weapons.

The contract was announced at a meeting of French Director-General of Armament Laurent Collet-Billon and his UK counterpart, Minister of Defence Procurement Harriett Baldwin in London on 22 February. However, the UK segment of the contract element (valued at GBP146 million [USD182 million]) was approved in October 2016, and the French segment (value not disclosed) on 30 December 2016, respectively.

Original post janes.co

The Storm Shadow / SCALP is a long-range, air-launched, stand-off attack missile designed and developed by France-based MBDA Systems. The missile was developed primarily for the UK and French armed forces. It is derived from the MBDA Systems’ Apache anti-runway missile.

The missile is intended to strike high-valued stationary assets such as airbases, radar installations, communications hubs and port facilities. The Storm Shadow is capable of engaging the targets precisely in any weather conditions during day and night. The long range and low attitude combined with subsonic speed make the Storm Shadow a stealthy missile.

Storm Shadow guidance and navigation system

The Storm Shadow missile is designed to strike the targets with an enhanced accuracy, employing different navigation systems installed onboard.

The navigation system of the missile includes inertial navigation (INS), global positioning system (GPS) and terrain reference navigation for better control over the path and accurate target strike. The missile is fitted with a passive imaging infrared seeker.

Image: tpe-rafale.e-monsite.com

The Storm Shadow missile is programmed with each and every detail of the target and the path to be taken to reach the target prior to its launch. Once released from the aircraft, the missile follows a pre-programmed path at low level with the help of continuous updates from the onboard navigation system. It employs imaging infrared seeker to compare the actual target area with stored imagery repeatedly until reaching the target.

Storm Shadow warhead details

The missile is fitted with a two-stage bomb royal ordnance augmented charge (BROACH) blast/ penetrator warhead.

The first stage of the warhead makes the way for the second stage by cutting the surface of the target. The larger second stage (main) of the warhead then penetrates into the target and detonates.

Storm Shadow propulsion system

Turbomeca Microturbo TRI 60-30 turbojet – Image: leteckemotory.cz

The Storm Shadow missile is equipped with a Turbomeca Microturbo TRI 60-30 turbojet propulsion system, which can produce a 5.4kN of thrust. Source airforce-technology.com

Apart from extreme accuracy, the second element of Storm Shadow effectiveness is the sophisticated warhead it carries, the Bomb, Royal Ordnance, Augmenting CHarge (BROACH). BROACH uses a precursor penetrator charge followed by a follow through main charge. Combined with an advanced fuze (like Paveway IV, from Thales) it has proven to be devastatingly effective. Source thinkdefence.co.uk

Image: thinkdefence.co.uk

Technical data:

Originated From: France

Possessed By: France, United Kingdom, Italy, Greece, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates (UAE)

Alternate Name: APACHE AP, SCALP EG, Storm Shadow, SCALP Naval, Black Shaheen

Class: Short Range Cruise Missile

Basing: air-, ship-, sub-launched

Length: 5.1 m (5.5 m for SCALP Naval)

Diameter: 630 mm

Launch Weight: 1,300 kg (1,230 kg for APACHE AP)

Warhead: 1 X 400 kg HE penetration

Propulsion: turbojet

Range: 140- 400 km

Status: Operational

In Service: 2004

Variant		SCALP EG/Storm Shadow
Range		400 km
Platform		Air-Launched
Warhead		1X400 kg HE penetration
Diameter		630 mm
Launch Weight		1,300 kg
Countries Possessing Missile		France, Greece, Italy, Saudi Arabia, United Kingdom