France to hand over SCALP-EG missiles to Ukraine
SCALP-EG missile under the fuselage of a Dassault Rafale fighter
The French leadership intends to continue to support the Kiev regime and provide it with various weapons. The other day it became known that in the order of military-technical assistance to Ukraine they can send aviation cruise missiles SCALP-EG. How soon this will happen, and how many products will be shipped, has not yet been specified. However, even now it can be assumed that such assistance will actually be useless.
Long-range weapons
On May 15, French President Emmanuel Macron gave an interview to TF1 Info. The main topic of the conversation, as expected, was the Ukrainian crisis and the role of France in current events. The head of state on duty noted the need for assistance to Ukraine in countering the notorious Russian aggression. In addition, he revealed some ways of such assistance.
E. Macron recalled the supply of French weapons and equipment to Ukraine, and also stated the need to continue them. In the near future, it is planned to draw up and approve another assistance package, including various weapons. In particular, the possibility of transferring aviation ammunition is being considered.
The new aid package may include the SCALP-EG long-range air-launched cruise missile. At the same time, any details of such assistance are predictably not specified. E. Macron did not even name the approximate number of missiles for shipment, the timing of their dispatch, methods of deployment in the Ukrainian Air Force, etc.
As always, the French president made a reservation about restrictions on military-technical assistance. According to him, the Kyiv regime is still not going to transfer weapons that would allow attacking the "old" territory of Russia outside the newly annexed regions. However, the Kiev regime has long shown that it does not pay attention to such conditions and restrictions.
From two countries
It should be noted that news about French missiles for the Ukrainian regime appeared against a curious background. So, on May 11, the British Ministry of Defense officially announced the transfer of a certain number of Storm Shadow ALCMs to Ukraine. The very next day, the Ukrainian Air Force used this for the first time. weapon, and launches continue.
Suspension under the fender
The British product Storm Shadow and the French SCALP-EG are actually the same missile, produced for different customers. Thus, two foreign countries at once are ready to supply Kyiv with a modern aviation missile with high performance. Perhaps the supply plans for Storm Shadow and SCALP-EG were agreed in advance, and now they are allowed to talk about them openly.
It can be assumed that shipments of a "common" missile from the two countries are aimed at the quickest and easiest achievement of the required amount of assistance. In addition, due to this approach, it will be possible to solve some problems of a financial, logistical and organizational nature. In fact, we are talking about the division of costs and activities into two states. In this case, the recipient country will not have to master two different products, which to some extent will simplify the deployment of weapons.
Common rocket
Britain and France began developing a new long-range missile for their tactical aircraft in the mid-nineties. Curiously, the two countries assigned different designations to the project. The British military named the rocket Storm Shadow, and in France they introduced the name SCALP-EG (Système de Croisière Autonome à Longue Portée, Emploi Général - “General Long-Range Cruise Missile System”).
In 1996, the winner of the competitive stage of the program was a joint project of the French company Matra and the British British Aerospace (after a series of transformations, the current MBDA company was created on their basis). They received a contract to complete the development, conduct tests and prepare for mass production.
Preliminary tests of the new ALCM began at the turn of the decade, and at the beginning of the 2003s, the first launches from carrier aircraft took place. In 2004-XNUMX Storm Shadow / SCALP-EG officially adopted by the two countries. Over the next few years, the process of developing weapons and integrating new carriers into the weapons complex continued.
In parallel, the development of the project was carried out. The aircraft rocket was refined and improved technically. In addition, ammunition for MdCN ships and submarines was created at its base. Due to the design changes, such a product is distinguished by an increased launch range.
France placed the first order for the SCALP-EG back in the late nineties, before development was complete. 500 aircraft missiles were delivered. Subsequently, several hundred marine MdCNs were purchased. British-French missiles were supplied to a number of foreign countries. At the same time, exports were carried out mainly under the English designation Storm Shadow. Ukraine has now become the next recipient of missiles. Unlike other states, it receives ALCMs without payment at market value, and in addition, products under both names are transferred to it.
Technical potential
The SCALP-EG/Storm Shadow is a low-profile, long-range cruise missile designed for tactical aircraft. It is built according to the normal aerodynamic scheme and has an elongated faceted fuselage with a folding wing. The length of the product exceeds 5 m, weight - 1,3 tons.
The rocket is equipped with a low-power turbojet engine, with which it can reach speeds of up to 1000 km/h. The flight range reaches 560 km, but for export products this parameter is limited to 250 km. Marine modification flies 1300-1400 km.
Combined guidance is used based on satellite and inertial navigation, as well as the TERCOM system. During the flight, the autopilot determines the current coordinates of the rocket and compares the underlying surface with the loaded map of the area. In the final section of the trajectory, the search for the target is carried out by the infrared seeker. A 450-kg high-explosive penetrating warhead of the BROACH type is delivered to the target.
The regular carriers of the SCALP-EG ALCMs are the French Dassault Mirage 2000 and Rafale fighter-bombers. The RAF uses Tornado and Typhoon aircraft in this role. Reportedly, in Ukraine, modified Su-24 front-line bombers became carriers of Storm Shadow.
Predictable future
It is not known when the French missiles will reach Ukraine and reach combat use. But already now we can imagine the results of their use. Such conclusions can be drawn by considering the accumulated experience of using these products.
Storm Shadow/SCALP-EG missile in flight configuration
So, back in 2018, British-French missiles of several modifications were used for a massive strike on Syrian targets. Syrian air defense, built on the basis of Russian technology, successfully repelled this attack. At the same time, our specialists gained access to the wreckage of modern foreign weapons and were able to study them.
May 12, 2023 Storm Shadow was used by Ukrainian aviation for the first time. Two missiles were able to break through to the targets, but the carrier aircraft and the fighter covering it were seen and shot down. As early as May 15, the Russian Ministry of Defense reported the first successful interception of a cruise missile. The next day, they reported the defeat of seven Storm Shadow products and one Su-24 bomber, probably the carrier of such missiles.
Thus, the air defense and air forces of the Russian armed forces have shown and proved their ability to detect and destroy both Storm Shadow cruise missiles and their carriers in the form of old Soviet aircraft. Obviously, the French version of the ALCM does not differ from the British one and will show the same modest results.
However, SCALP-EG missiles have a chance to save their reputation, but such a development of events will not suit Kyiv. The fact is that Ukraine has few Su-24 bombers left, and the installation of imported missiles on other aircraft is difficult or even impossible. A scenario is quite real in which Russian air defense systems and fighters will finish off the Ukrainian fleet of bombers, and the missiles will be left without carriers. Accordingly, they will not be launched and will not be shot down. The blame for the failure of combat use can be placed on aviation, but not on missiles.
Double failure
The French leadership decided to once again help the Kyiv regime with the supply of modern weapons, but the prospects for such assistance are in question. The British Storm Shadow missile has already shown its real capabilities and lack of effectiveness. The French SCALP-EG is no different from it, and the results of the application will be the same. In fact, we are talking about the failed weapons of two countries at once.
However, the threat in the form of foreign missiles should not be underestimated either. The Storm Shadow / SCALP-EG ALCM has fairly high tabular characteristics and poses a danger to objects at a great depth of defense. Such weapons and their carriers should be considered as a priority target for air defense. And, judging by the latest news, the necessary measures have already been taken and have given the desired effect.
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