UK arms boost: New Storm Shadow missiles for Ukraine
Ukraine might possess an even larger number of Western missiles, enabling it to carry out strikes deep into Russia. According to Bloomberg, citing its sources, Kyiv is reported to have received a new batch of conventional, long-range tactical Storm Shadow cruise missiles from the United Kingdom.
Bloomberg states that this is the first such transfer since Keir Starmer assumed office as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. The deliveries of Storm Shadow missiles, which were not publicly announced, reportedly took place a few weeks ago. The exact number of missiles involved remains unclear.
Storm Shadow for Ukraine
However, Bloomberg notes that the transfer occurred before the United States and the United Kingdom decided to permit long-range weapon attacks deep into Russian territory. As the agency informed us, the British Ministry of Defence declined to comment on these reports for security reasons.
The additional Storm Shadow missiles, conventional long-range tactical cruise missiles carried by aircraft with low detectability, could significantly bolster Ukraine's capabilities. Kyiv has already executed its first attack on Russian territory using this weapon, according to the Reuters agency, which occurred on 20 November. Ukraine reportedly launched approximately 10 Storm Shadow cruise missiles towards Russia, with social media featuring images purportedly showing the remains of Western missiles.
Storm Shadow, weighing approximately 2,900 pounds and with a length of 16 feet, is designed for effective attacks on strategic targets such as airbases, communication hubs, ports, or underground facilities. Equipped with a BROACH warhead weighing around 1,000 pounds, the missile can penetrate 6 to 13 feet of reinforced concrete. Thanks to its Turbomeca Microturbo TRI 60-30 turbojet engine (thrust of 1,200 pounds-force), it can reach 620 mph and strike targets at a distance of 155 to 250 miles, regardless of weather conditions or time of day.
Storm Shadow belongs to the fire-and-forget missile category. Once programmed and launched, it requires no further control, making it exceptionally effective. The inertial navigation system, GPS, TERPROM (terrain profile matching), and the guidance head ensure precise hits. The missile travels at low altitudes, from 130 to 490 feet above the ground, making it difficult to detect. The margin of error when hitting the target is only 3 to 10 feet.
Before the final attack, Storm Shadow deploys a high-resolution thermal imaging camera to confirm the target. The missile then ascends to an appropriate altitude to deliver the strike effectively. The two-stage BROACH warhead plays a critical role. Its precursor creates a hole in the target, allowing the main part of the warhead to destroy the object.
