SCALP MISSILES

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Context

French President Emmanuel Macron said on the first day of the NATO Summit that France will send Ukraine long-range SCALP missiles, which are analogous to the British Storm Shadow.

APACHE AP

The APACHE AP and its variants are a series of French-made air-launched cruise missiles.

Storm Shadow / SCALP-EG

It is a British-French air-launched cruise missile manufactured by MBDA.
Storm Shadow is the British name for the weapon, while in the French army, it is called SCALP EG (Système de Croisière Autonome à Longue Portée – Emploi Général), which means a long-range general-purpose cruise missile).

SCALP

About

Storm Shadow / SCALP is the air-launched long-range, conventionally armed, deep strike weapon, designed to meet the demanding requirements of pre-planned attacks against high-value fixed or stationary targets.

Development

Developed jointly by the two NATO allies- UK and France, Storm Shadow/SCALP is a 1,300-kilogram missile armed with conventional explosives, usually launched from aircraft such as the Royal Air Force’s Eurofighter Typhoon or French Rafale.

Operations

Storm Shadow / SCALP has been put into operations with the Royal Air Force and the French Air Force in 2003 and was used in the Gulf, Iraq and Libya.
The weapon is now in service with three other nations giving unrivalled deep strike capability. Storm Shadow / SCALP is operated from Tornado, Rafale, Mirage 2000 and in the future from Eurofighter Typhoon.

Characteristics

These cruise missiles are designed to engage fixed or moving targets with high accuracy. They are capable of operating in all weather conditions and can be launched from a variety of aircraft, including the Tornado, Rafale and Typhoon.
The weapon offers operators a highly flexible, deep-strike capability based on a sophisticated mission planning system.
The Storm Shadow / SCALP EG is powered by a turbojet engine and has a range of up to 560 km, but its export versions have a limited range of up to 250 km.
They are equipped with various triple Navigation Systems, and Guidance Systems, including Inertial Navigation, Terrain Tracking Sensors and Radar.
The missiles can carry various warheads, such as conventional explosives, cluster munitions and nuclear warheads.
These advanced navigation systems, combined with an imaging infrared seeker and automatic target recognition algorithms, allow the missile to effectively hit the targeted impact point in severe conditions.
The missiles have been praised for their accuracy and effectiveness.
They are credited with destroying a number of important targets, including command centres, air defence systems and military bases.

Features and functionality of Storm Shadow / SCALP EG

The Storm Shadow / SCALP EG cruise missiles are highly effective weapons systems, with a number of features that make them effective in combat, in particular:

Long Range:

Storm Shadow / SCALP EG has a range of up to 560 km, enabling it to hit targets deep inside enemy territory.

Precise Targeting:

Storm Shadow / SCALP EG is equipped with various guidance systems, including inertial navigation, terrain tracking and radar. This allows them to engage targets with high accuracy.

Low Radar Visibility:

Storm Shadow / SCALP EG is designed to operate stealthily, making it difficult for enemy air defences to detect it.

Payload Flexibility:

These cruise missiles can carry a variety of warheads, including conventional explosives, cluster munitions and nuclear warheads. This gives them the ability to hit a wide range of targets.
The Storm Shadow / SCALP EG is a long-range, air-launched, “fire and forget” cruise missile.
This means that it can be launched and then not tracked, as it will move to its target autonomously.
The missile is equipped with a variety of guidance systems, including GPS, inertial navigation and the TERPROM system, which allow it to fly low and avoid detection by enemy air defences.

Design of the Storm Shadow / SCALP EG cruise missile

The Storm Shadow / SCALP EG is a highly advanced and versatile missile that can be used to engage a variety of targets, including enemy air defences, command and control centres, military installations and even bunkers.
The long-range air-launched cruise missile itself consists of the following components:
Cylindrical body made of composite materials
A pair of wings that provide lift and control
A tail unit that provides stability
Propulsion system, which consists of a turbojet engine and a direct-flow jet engine
Navigation system including GPS, inertial system and TERPROM, terminal stage – infrared homing head, DSMAС
A warhead that can be either conventional or nuclear.

Which aircraft are capable of launching Storm Shadow

The SCALP EG cruise missile can be launched from a variety of aircraft, including:
Dassault Rafale
Eurofighter Typhoon
Panavia Tornado
Dassault Mirage 2000
AMX International AMX
BAE Hawk

PRACTICE QUESTION

Q. Consider the following statements with respect to SCALP MISSILE.

1. SCALP is an air-launched long-range, conventionally armed, deep-strike weapon.

2. SCALP has a range of up to 10000 km, enabling it to hit targets deep inside enemy territory.

3. SCALP is equipped with various guidance systems, including inertial navigation, terrain tracking and radar.

4. SCALP is a “fire and forget” cruise missile that moves to its target autonomously.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(d) None of the above.

Correct Answer: (c) 1, 3 and 4 only