Storm Shadow: what's next, what to prepare for?
In Luhansk, on Republic Day, the Armed Forces of Ukraine tested their new weapon: Franco-British made Storm Shadow cruise missiles supplied by good British allies.
In general, talk that the missiles would be delivered began literally not so long ago, before that the possibilities were chewed over, and as soon as it was firmly said that Kiev would receive these missiles, the first use immediately happened. Which once again confirms that the decision was made a long time ago, and the Ukrainian military personnel underwent appropriate training.
Watching the controversy unfolding on the Web, he shrugged his shoulders: well, tell me, what the hell is Thunder? If it was released, then in a single copy for testing, the results of which were not a single letter. I don’t want to talk about Grom-2, it’s Dom-2, but in the Ukrainian manner.
Therefore, I will not repeat the tales of some “SuperHaymars” or OTRK “Thunder”, we have a delivered Storm Shadow, which, according to its performance characteristics, could easily fly to Lugansk.
And, by the way, now not only to Lugansk.
Well, plus the discovery in Luhansk of a decoy missile for cruise missiles, a regular American decoy, suggests that the Ukrainians were equipped, equipped and trained from the heart.
The only thing that causes thought so far is how Storm Shadow has been used and will continue to be used. There is one snag here, to which there is no clear answer yet, but something will come up in the process.
So, Storm Shadow or "Shadow of the Storm", a stealthy long-range cruise missile of joint British-French development. It has been developed since 1994 by engineers from Matra and British Aerospace. The missile has been in service since 2001. French version of the name SCALP-EG.
The rocket is frankly successful. It was tested by combat in 2003 in the Persian Gulf zone, it is exported to everyone, more than 3 missiles have been manufactured to date. This is to the question of how many such missiles Ukraine can get. A lot of.
In France, on the basis of Storm Shadow, they created the MdCN ship- and submarine-based cruise missile. "Caliber" with French origin, although the rocket is more like the Kh-101.
Features of the Storm Shadow rocket
The missile was originally designed as a stealth. In fact, Storm Shadow is close to the Russian Kh-101 strategic cruise missile, which was also created taking into account technologies for reducing radar visibility and also for aviation carriers. In stealth, the French and the British were able to, the rocket is really difficult to detect. But not impossible. In 2018, such missiles hit the Him Shingshar facility near Homs in Syria, and representatives of the Syrian army announced that all eight Storm Shadows were shot down.
Then the press services of all participants in the raid unanimously began to accuse the Syrians of false information, but in Moscow, at a press conference, the press service of the Russian Defense Ministry demonstrated parts of the Storm Shadow missile in a condition that excluded combat undermining. That is, downed.
The second feature of the Storm Shadow is its low flight profile. The missile flies to the target at an altitude of 30-40 meters. A rocket in flight bends around the terrain and can change direction. Along with stealth, this makes it difficult for Storm Shadow to be detected and intercepted by air defenses.
The third feature of the rocket is a tandem or dual warhead - the BROACH (Bomb Royal Ordnance Augmented CHarge) warhead. We know how tandem ammunition works. The first part is a penetrating charge for the destruction of armor, concrete, earth. The second part is the main warhead, designed to hit the target behind the defense.
Storm Shadow was originally designed to hit deep-seated or fortified command posts, command posts, and communications posts. Also, the missile warhead is effective for strikes against infrastructure facilities, hangars and industrial buildings. It is very good to apply on bridges, overpasses, power plants and so on.
Basing and application
And here is where the confusion continues. The carriers of the Storm Shadow cruise missiles are the Tornado, Rafale, Mirage 2000 and Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft. These aircraft, as we understand, are not in service with the Armed Forces of Ukraine and even (apart from vague talk about the possible sale of the old Tornado and Mirage 2000) nothing is expected.
And here comes the question: where did you launch Storm Shadow from?
There are several options, but they are, let's say, controversial:
1. Ground Launcher
Theoretically yes, it is possible. Were the Americans able to finalize their Hymars launchers by launching GLSDB guided aerial bombs? Bombs with the help of an accelerating stage are thrown to a great height, from where they plan for a distance of up to 150 km. In theory, it is even easier to do this with an aircraft rocket by adding the first stage for launch to the design.
But this is only in theory, because in addition to the launcher, such a missile requires an entire information supply system: a control center, a target designation system that will supply the missile with location data at the first moment of launch, and orient it. Of course, it is possible to “charge” a missile with information at a decent distance from the launch site, but there is no clear information that Ukraine has any launchers capable of firing Storm Shadow.
In addition, in the ground-launched version, it is worth recalculating the range of the missile. Air launch and ground launch are slightly different things in terms of fuel consumption. The aircraft performs the role of the first stage, lifting the rocket above the ground and giving it an initial speed. In the case of a launch from the ground, everything has to be done at the expense of the main rocket engine, which cannot but affect the flight range. Physics. That is why the French naval version of Storm Shadow, MdCN, received the first stage, which allows you to separate from the ship and gain initial altitude and speed.
Therefore, you can talk about 560 km of flight, but something tells you that the real range will be less.
2. Air base
Initially, Storm Shadow can be used from Tornado IDS, Saab Gripen, Dassault Mirage 2000 and Dassault Rafale, Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft. Ukraine does not have such aircraft and is not yet expected, so one of the options for using the Storm Shadow is to refine the aircraft in service with the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
There are not many types of aircraft at the disposal of the Ukrainian Air Force: MiG-29, Su-27, Su-25 and Su-24. We immediately dismiss the attack aircraft, its design was not originally intended for bombs weighing more than 500 kg, but here 1400 ...
MiG-29.
Can. Instead of an external fuel tank. PTB takes about 1500 liters of fuel, plus the weight of the tank itself - it turns out similar, as with an accurate weight distribution - I can’t say. Naturally, alteration of the suspension system and aircraft control systems will be required.
Su-27.
Doubtful. Initially designed as a "clean" fighter, the aircraft was not designed to use such heavy ammunition. In terms of weight, the Su-27 would even lift more than one missile, but this would definitely require a large amount of work to finish the aircraft.
Su-Xnumx.
And here is quite. Beam holders BD4-U can quite easily hang THREE units of weapons weighing 1500 kg. Yes, in the original it is the FAB-1500, but this is no longer so important, because structurally the aircraft can lift such ammunition.
Plus, the Su-24 is still a two-seat bomber, so everything is easier in terms of preliminary operations.
However, no data on the conversion of Ukrainian aircraft was leaked to open sources (the Poles promised, but there was no confirmation), hence there are two scenarios for the development of events: either the aircraft were converted in compliance with the maximum levels of secrecy, or they were not Ukrainian aircraft. Both options, as you know, so-so. There is nothing good about them.
In the first case, the planes flew off somewhere and on the territory of third countries (you can even figure out a list) received the necessary equipment in the form of suspension, activation and rocket launch systems. It's not as easy as it looks, a rocket is not a bomb, it requires a little more equipment to launch than a button that releases the grips. And even then, now the bombs have gone, which are no easier to launch and escort than a rocket.
In the case of Storm Shadow, operator escort is not required, the main thing is to launch the rocket, and then it will handle everything on its own. For this, she has everything: an autonomous inertial guidance system combined with GPS (that is, there is a satellite signal - it goes along it, no - the map is in the “brains”) and the TERPROM extreme-correlation correction system on the earth's surface for a very extreme case rejection of everything. And when approaching the target area on the maps, the missile must “see” the target with the help of a thermal imaging seeker (like the Javelin) and say to itself: “It, bahem.”
The principle of "fire and forget" in action. And the operator-navigator is useful here only in terms of guiding the aircraft in order to create the most favorable conditions for the rocket to work.
In general, the questions are not simple: who, where and how converted the Su-24 of the Ukrainian Air Force. However, in our case, you can safely poke your finger at almost every European country.
The second option is perhaps no more fantastic than any of the others. Use of a "leased" aircraft and crew. From the same Royal Air Force of Great Britain. Eurofighter "Typhoon" with Storm Shadow, with a crew that does not need to be taught and trained. And with the plane, which does not need to be redone, everything has already been done.
Such a plane flew in unnoticed, quietly launched exactly two missiles, quietly flew back. The missiles, imperceptibly for our air defense, flew to Luhansk and got into the plant there. Pretty well executed plan. Criticism of our air defense? Sorry, I don't see any point in this. Especially after the events in the Bryansk region.
Could the British have done this? Yes, easily. And, leaking to the Internet even indirectly confirming this data, I will not be surprised at all. They have their own war.
How to defeat Storm Shadow?
Will have to win. It is difficult to say how many of these missiles are in the warehouses of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, but the fact that they are there and will be used is a fact. And the fact that the Ukrainians were taught to use high-precision weapons is also, as it were, indisputable.
Storm Shadow is a nasty thing. In flight, the rocket is guided, as already mentioned, by three systems: inertial, GPS, and TERCOM (terrain maps). Plus, the rocket has a bank of maps with terrain in height and is equipped with radar altimeters.
Hence the excellent ability to fly at low and ultra-low altitudes and the ability to avoid obstacles. In addition, the use of such a system is more accurate than a conventional inertial navigation system. Well, if the flight takes place at low altitudes, then, accordingly, this makes it difficult for the missile to be detected by air defense radars.
Well, the last nail in the coffin: the dimensions of the Storm Shadow are three times smaller than the dimensions of the jet drone Tu-141 "Strizh", which easily crossed the European part of Russia, "under the sights" of the radars of our air defense system.
There is something to get excited about, right?
Plus a warhead of half a ton of high-penetrating explosives. More than two times more than the ATACMS Block IA tactical ballistic missile, which Ukraine has so far unsuccessfully asked the West from the very beginning of the conflict. Now you can really stop, it turned out quite well without ATACMS.
As a result, we have in our opponents a missile capable of flying at extremely low altitudes, with low radar visibility, which will significantly complicate the fight against it.
If we talk about the use of Storm Shadow in the terrain of the European part of Russia, that is, medium ruggedness, there is an opinion that the multifunctional radars of the S-400 air defense system and the S-300 illumination and guidance radars of all modifications will be able to detect and capture Storm Shadow flying at an altitude of 50 meters at a distance of no more than 16-18 km. This is an assumption made by specialists from the MDV channel, but with the proviso that it will be possible to really clarify this only in the course of combat work.
In any case, a rocket flying at a speed of about 16 km / h (1000 m / s) will overcome these 277 km in some 55-60 seconds, which does not give time for buildup.
After detecting and capturing Storm Shadow for escort, it is necessary to launch immediately, and preferably with two missiles at once, to ensure the maximum probability of destruction. In this case, the meeting of missiles with the target will occur approximately at a distance of 10-13 km. This is in the event that the calculation of the air defense system works very quickly.
In the event of the slightest delay / sluggishness of the combat crew of the anti-aircraft missile unit, Storm Shadow after a very short period of time can easily leave the affected area.
That is, we again begin to bang our heads against the wall, behind which we have such an unattainable thing as a well-built and (important!) layered air defense system, and even consisting of various types of air defense systems. Plus, electronic reconnaissance, capable of detecting Storm Shadow at the maximum distance, and thus greatly facilitating the work of air defense systems with data.
In general, everything that we have long dreamed of.
Oh yes, we still have electronic warfare. Without the slightest condescension or sarcasm: these guys can do as much as air defense crews, and in some cases, even more. The main thing is to give them the opportunity to work, but we will talk about the intricacies of electronic warfare in the field separately.
True, to say that electronic warfare is omnipotent means to lie. To say that electronic warfare can handle itself is also a lie. To say that electronic warfare is useless is even more stupid than the first two points. The question is the clarity of interaction with other countermeasure systems. But electronic warfare systems may well provide significant assistance in the fight against cruise missiles. The main thing here is an understanding of the processes and not to rely on the adherents of the “Almighty Beauty”.
How the electronic filling of Storm Shadow works was discussed above, but we repeat:
- Storm Shadow navigation system has GPS, at least Navstar and Galileo;
- radio altimeter, which provides information for avoiding terrain;
- thermal imaging homing head for final adjustment.
When preparing for launch, a map of the area with the route, the terrain on the route of movement and an infrared portrait of the object are loaded into the rocket. After launch, the rocket starts moving along the correction points in accordance with the terrain map and GPS data.
If suddenly the GPS signals disappear, then the rocket goes along the inertial system and is corrected along the ground. Coming to the object, the rocket gains altitude, captures the object with an infrared homing head, compares the resulting image with a laid portrait, like a Javelin, after which the target is hit.
What can electronic warfare?
1. The main countermeasure is the jamming of satellite signals. Ideally, at least in the area of \uXNUMXb\uXNUMXblocation of the covered target, on the final segment of the missile's flight.
The difficulty is that you need to crush anti-jamming navigation signals, this will require an additional number of jamming stations. Plus, if the target is not in an open field, but in a city, this creates additional difficulties.
Let me give you my city as an example. Part of the air defense, the headquarters of the 20th army, several enterprises, hitting which would be painful, an aircraft factory, a military airfield. It's been two weeks since the electronic warfare "blew" out of the city all non-resident taxi drivers of southern origin, which the city did not know at all, relying on navigators. Now, when almost half of the millionth city is "closed" from satellites, only those who can without navigators are left in a taxi. But you have to wait longer.
But no one yells, everyone understands that it’s better to wait for a taxi than flying crap, which still doesn’t know where it will fall. Moreover, anti-aircraft gunners regularly bring down something from heaven
But no one yells, everyone understands that it’s better to wait for a taxi than flying crap, which still doesn’t know where it will fall. Moreover, anti-aircraft gunners regularly bring down something from heaven
The inertial reporting system is more unpleasant, but the accuracy is already different there.
2. Radio altimeter. This is an ordinary locator that works in a vertical plane. It is suppressed in the event that a missile is detected by the corresponding complexes, what this suppression can lead to is understandable. To the loss of orientation on the relief map, followed by sticking into the relief object, if there are such on the route.
3. TGSN. Here it is possible, necessary and important to cover important objects with heat traps. They will not lead the modern matrix TGSN behind them, but blinding them, they will confuse, because the Storm Shadow TGSN compares the target image seen with the one stored in memory, and if there is no match, there will be no defeat.
Yes, smokes, oddly enough, can also do their evil work and prevent the rocket from “seeing” the target. And there will be no time to think. 277 meters per second.
But IR traps and smoke are already the last line of defense and counteraction. And in order to use their missile, it is necessary to detect and track it, which automatically brings us back to what was said earlier about layered air defense and RTR.
The result will be the disruption of the task of destroying an important object, since even if the missile deviates from the flight line by 50-150 meters, even with a half-ton warhead, its detonation may not have the expected effect. Which is already good.
Why do I keep talking about some "important goals"? Agree, launching a rocket, the cost of which is “only” 850 euros for a company command post, is stupid. Targets will be chosen very carefully, and Lugansk is actually a sighting.
Shooting after shooting
The Crimean bridge is immediately seen as the first target. Of course, the political aspect prevails here, and not only will a strike on the bridge, if successful, greatly complicate the supply of the group of Russian troops, since the land corridor to the Crimea is not yet at the ready stage, but another political slap in the face is obvious.
The moral and psychological significance here is simply overwhelming. Not just a deafening slap in the face, as was the case with sabotage, but something else, a demonstration of superiority in weapons.
Naturally, most likely, the blow will be combined. That is, in order to load Russian air defense as much as possible, you can launch everything that can depict a rocket in the air: Tochka, Haymars, drones and fake missiles. And from different directions.
The same small Switchblade 300 is a very useful thing for such operations.
It is easily transported, but what is there, it is carried in a backpack, it is launched almost from hand, and the warhead, although scanty, is: even 100 grams of C4 that exploded on the PAR antenna sheet, say, the S-400 locator is guaranteed to disable the air defense system.
In the same way, you can attack any targets other than bridges and overpasses. The same airfields or equipment repair bases, warehouses. Anything that pleases. The scheme was worked out back in Iraq, nothing new, and there is no point in developing something new, because the old one works quite well.
What is the supply of Storm Shadow?
Of course, it is very useful for the Armed Forces of Ukraine to have missiles of such a range at their disposal, especially since Kyiv has long been begging its allies for this. It's not about the Ukrainians, it's about their allies/masters. The transfer of Storm Shadow is a kind of “red line” that the gentlemen from NATO drew for themselves. And they crossed it, moreover, it turned out somehow quietly and calmly.
If just a couple of years ago, Zelensky literally begged himself on his knees for at least something long-range, swearing that nothing would fly into Russia, today you can already start thinking about what will happen next. After deliveries of Storm Shadow, the issue with ATACMS is no longer so acute, although a ballistic missile will come in handy for Ukrainians who are prudent in this regard. In addition, intercepting a tactical ballistic missile has its own difficulties.
But here it really makes sense to think about what else is left of what Kyiv would very much like to receive, but was not given. It doesn't matter for what reason.
Who thought about airplanes? I am sure that here we will all get into the top ten. And the delivery of the F-16 with air-to-ground missiles of the AGM-158 JASSM type with a firing range of up to 1000 km in the ER variant is not such an unrealizable dream as it might seem.
AGM-158 JASSM-ER is not "yesterday". This is the "today" of combat rocket science. A new high-precision cruise missile by all standards, capable of hitting protected and mobile important targets with its warhead weighing 450 kg in any weather conditions and at any time of the day.
Flight range (attention!) - 1000 km.
This is a completely different pattern of application, completely different perspectives. Someone can say - fiction and speculation. Yes, it's possible. But once upon a time, Hymars seemed like a fairy tale, but there they are, working as if nothing had happened.
And JASSM-ER is also cheaper than Storm Shadow. $850 versus €000. And the F-850 ... so, an application to them, nothing more.
The most unpleasant thing is that after deliveries tanks Leopard-2, M142 HIMARS and Storm Shadow getting Kiev F-16 along with the latest missiles no longer looks like such an alarmist fiction. Everything will be within the framework of the game, which is determined by the British and American gentlemen. And they, as you know, are not particularly used to ceremony with the rules of the game.
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