The United Kingdom has granted Ukraine permission to use Storm Shadow missiles for strikes on Russian territory.
This decision show the increasing support Ukraine is receiving from Western allies as it continues its defense against Russia.
The Storm Shadow Missile: Capabilities and Costs
Developed by French company Matra and British Aerospace since 1994, the Storm Shadow is a sophisticated air-to-ground cruise missile, according to URA.
Each missile costs approximately 2.1 billion rubles (about $22 million). The Storm Shadow features a turbojet engine capable of reaching speeds up to Mach 0.8, with a top flight speed of around 1,000 kilometers per hour.
It has an impressive range of 563 kilometers, although export versions are limited to around 300 kilometers. Weighing about 1,300 kilograms, the missile is equipped with the BROACH warhead, designed to penetrate bunkers and hardened targets.
Experts suggest that Ukraine may deploy these missiles on MiG-29 fighters recently supplied by Slovakia and Poland, though specific aircraft assignments are still under consideration.
Comparison with Russian Counterparts
The Storm Shadow's Russian counterpart is the Kalibr missile, which boasts a range of up to 2,600 kilometers for ground targets and 380 kilometers for naval targets.
The Kalibr, like the Storm Shadow, is designed for precision strikes and features a penetrating warhead.
Dr. Konstantin Sivkov, a military science expert, asserts that Storm Shadow missiles can evade current air defense systems.
Vadim Kozyulin of the Diplomatic Academy of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasizes that detecting such missiles requires airborne early warning systems like the A-50, while rapid communication and coordination are crucial for countering them with systems like the Pantsir-S1 or Buk missile systems.
