First Image of Storm Shadow/SCALP Missile Launch from a Ukrainian Su-24 Fighter Jet.

The Ukrainian Air Force has released its first official video showing the combat launch of Storm Shadow/SCALP cruise missiles from a Su-24 aircraft. This historic footage, unveiled on the 20th anniversary of the Ukrainian Air Force, marks a significant milestone in Ukraine's military history. Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link

Screenshot of the video showing the Storm Shadow/Scalp Missiles firing from a Ukrainian SU-24. (Picture source: Ukrainian Air Forces)

The video, published on the Ukrainian Air Force's YouTube channel, depicts the missiles being deployed from an altitude of approximately 500 meters at subsonic speeds. Notably, the Su-24 aircraft do not perform anti-aircraft evasive maneuvers post-launch, indicating that the missiles were fired from a safe distance from the front lines.

The Storm Shadow or SCALP missile, developed by MBDA, is a long-range, air-launched cruise missile used for precision strikes against high-value targets. Production began in the late 1990s, and it was first used operationally by the United Kingdom and France in conflicts such as Iraq and Libya. Since May 2023, Ukraine has acquired several of these missiles from the United Kingdom and France. The Storm Shadow features advanced capabilities, including a 450 kg BROACH warhead designed for deep penetration and high-explosive fragmentation, enabling it to destroy fortified structures and bunkers.

The missile employs a sophisticated navigation system comprising GPS, inertial navigation, and terrain reference navigation, ensuring precise targeting over long distances. Additionally, the Storm Shadow is equipped with a passive infrared seeker for terminal guidance, allowing accurate strikes on specific targets. With a range exceeding 250 km, the Storm Shadow can be launched from a safe distance, minimizing risk to the launching aircraft. It also incorporates stealth technology to reduce its radar signature, making it more difficult for enemy defenses to detect and intercept.

Before this release, the only available footage of Storm Shadow/SCALP missiles was from the manufacturer MBDA, dating back to the late 1990s and early 2000s. Although widely used in conflicts such as Iraq, Libya, and Syria since 2003, this is the first time they have been seen in combat use by the Ukrainian Air Force.

In Ukraine, these high-precision missiles, provided by the United Kingdom and France, have been crucial in striking significant targets, including the Russian Black Sea Fleet headquarters in Sevastopol and a submarine. Delivered in May 2023, the Storm Shadow missiles have significantly enhanced Ukraine’s defense capabilities.

Initially, the UK stipulated that these long-range missiles should be used strictly within Ukrainian territory to avoid escalating the conflict. However, in a policy shift announced in July 2024, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer indicated that Ukraine could target military sites in Russia with these missiles, provided their use adhered to international humanitarian law.

This announcement was seen as a crucial policy change and drew a strong response from Moscow, which condemned the decision as "irresponsible" and warned of potential retaliatory measures. France, which also supplied SCALP missiles to Ukraine, through its president, granted Ukraine the right to strike Russian territory with these missiles. The video also featured images of the Storm Shadow launched from an aircraft, flying through the sky. One missile bore a UK flag while another displayed French branding, using the alternative name SCALP, commonly used in France.

The Su-24 used to launch the missiles is a twin-engine, variable-sweep wing attack aircraft from the Soviet era, developed by Sukhoi and designed for all-weather, low-level penetration missions. Production of the Su-24 began in the early 1970s, and it entered service with the Soviet Air Force in 1974. Ukraine inherited several of these aircraft following the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, and they have been a key component of the Ukrainian Air Force since then. Recent estimates suggest that Ukraine operates around 12 to 14 Su-24 aircraft.

The Su-24 is known for its robust design and versatility in combat roles. It can carry a wide range of munitions, including precision-guided bombs, air-to-surface missiles, and conventional bombs. The aircraft is equipped with sophisticated avionics and a terrain-following radar, allowing it to perform low-altitude, high-speed attacks while evading enemy radar detection. With a top speed of over 1,300 km/h and a combat range of approximately 1,000 km, the Su-24 remains a formidable asset for delivering powerful strikes against ground targets.