Storm Shadow, SCALP-EG, cruise missile, UPSC Current Affairs.

Description

STORM SHADOW

Disclaimer: Copyright infringement not intended.

Context:

Storm Shadow missiles are becoming important for Ukraine as it faces daily attacks from Russia.

Storm Shadow

It is a air launch cruise missile.
It has been jointly developed by the UK and France.
It is called SCALP in French.
Storm Shadow / SCALP entered service with the Royal Air Force and the French Air Force in

Missile Characteristics

Range	It has a range of 250 kms.
Weight	1300 kg
Warhead	Blast / penetrator and this missile is outfitted with an innovative warhead system known as "Broach" (Bomb Royal Ordnance Augmented Charge).
Propulsion	The missile uses a turbojet engine for propulsion.
Guidance system	The missile is guided by a combination of a Global Positioning System (GPS) and an Inertial Navigation System (INS). The GPS provides satellite-based positioning data, while the INS uses motion sensors to calculate the missile's position and orientation without needing external references. As the missile nears its target, it switches to a terrain reference system for terminal guidance.
Equipments	Equipped with an imaging infrared seeker that is activated during the final target approach phase.

Combat Use:

The Storm Shadow / SCALP missile is versatile and can be carried by a variety of aircraft including the French Rafale and Mirage 2000 as well as the British Eurofighter Typhoon, the Panavia Tornado and the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.

Operational countries

The missile has been operational in countries like the Gulf, Iraq and Libya.
India ordered these missiles for Indian Air Force in 2016 as part of the Dassault Rafale deal.

Limitation in use and export

The export of long-range missiles like the Storm Shadow’ is typically restricted by international agreements such as the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR).
The MTCR, of which the UK is a founding member, limits the transfer of missiles with a range greater than 300 kilometers and a payload capacity exceeding 500 kilograms.
Each missile costs nearly US$1 million (£767,000), so they tend to be launched as part of a carefully planned flurry of much cheaper drones, sent ahead to confuse and exhaust the enemy’s air defences.

Read about basics of missiles: https://www.iasgyan.in/blogs/the-basics-of-missiles

Source:

https://www.mbda-systems.com/product/storm-shadow-scalp/

https://armyrecognition.com/military-products/army/missiles/cruise-missiles/storm-shadow-scalp-long-range-air-launched-attack-cruise-missile-data