A video from Zelensky’s go to to a Su-24 items exhibits that the French variant of the Storm Shadow has arrived in Ukraine and has already been put to make use of.
The SCALP EG missiles promised by French President Emmanuel Macron to Ukraine in the previous couple of months are lastly in nation, as proven by movies launched on social media. Ukrainian President Zelensky was seen signing one of many missiles throughout a go to to a Su-24 unit. Whereas the date of the video is unknown, it was launched simply as new strikes with cruise missiles have been carried out in opposition to Crimean bridges.
The missile signed by Zelensky may be the primary one delivered, because it was embellished with the SCALP EG writing painted within the French flag colours, the Coat of Arms of Ukraine with a superimposed Eiffel Tower and a emblem which merges the Su-24 and Mirage 2000 shapes. One other writing between the 2 logos has been obscured. The aircraft carrying the missiles within the video was reportedly the identical utilized in yesterday’s strikes in Crimea, in line with a publish from the Ukrainian MoD.
Volodymyr Zelensky indicators the «SCALP EG» cruise missile handed over by 🇫🇷#France, suspended from the Su-24
Thanks France ❤️ pic.twitter.com/kjguoR48pb
— Cloooud |🇺🇦 (@GloOouD) August 6, 2023
The SCALP EG (Système de Croisière Autonome à Longue Portée – Emploi Général / Lengthy Vary Autonomous Cruise Missile System – Common Goal) is the French variant of the MBDA Storm Shadow cruise missile, which has been in use in Ukraine since Might. Similar to the Storm Shadow, the SCALP EG is carried by the Fencer by using modified Tornado pylons.
Conceal and search. Final night time, dozens of russian missiles and Shaheds looked for Ukrainian planes and Storm Shadow missiles on the airfields. However it wasn’t till at the moment, in Chonhar and close to Henichesk, that the russians lastly discovered them. pic.twitter.com/Ei09qyFwR2
— Protection of Ukraine (@DefenceU) August 6, 2023
The 2 missiles are nearly equivalent, with simply minor variations. In accordance with some stories, France is supplying 50 missiles from its personal shares, whereas the quantity provided by the UK continues to be unknown. Anyway, the missiles are being utilized in a really efficient method, with precision strikes on key targets deep behind enemy traces.
The details about the strikes on two bridges in Crimea appeared at the moment:
🔹The bridge over the Tonkyi Strait close to Henichesk, which connects the city of Henichesk with the Arabat Spit. The fuel pipeline subsequent to the bridge was broken.
🔹 Chongar Bridge, which connects the… pic.twitter.com/njIxs9y66s
— Anton Gerashchenko (@Gerashchenko_en) August 6, 2023
Alternatively, Russian defenses will not be so efficient at countering the British weapon, as there are just a few reported circumstances of Storm Shadows shot down or malfunctioned. This may additionally be due to the reported use of ADM-160B Miniature Air Launched Decoys (MALD) drawing away the air defenses’ consideration from the cruise missiles.
#Ukraine: Extra of the fruits of British Help 🇬🇧 to the Ukrainian Military- MBDA ASRAAM IR anti-aircraft missiles mounted on a Supacat HMT truck to supply a cellular air-defense platform.
When fired from plane, the ASRAAM can hit targets greater than 25km away. pic.twitter.com/nW1r96Aau3
— 🇺🇦 Ukraine Weapons Tracker (@UAWeapons) August 4, 2023
With weapons persevering with to pour into Ukraine, the SCALP EG is simply the most recent wester weapon to be delivered. Final week, the truth is, one other British weapon was present for the primary time in Ukraine, the AIM-132 ASRAAM (Superior Brief-Vary Air-to-Air Missile). Through the use of a 6×6 Supacat Excessive Mobility Transporter chassis, two Twister missile rails and a sensor turret, the ASRAAM has been tailored in a SHORAD (Brief-Vary Air Protection).
Stefano D’Urso is a contract journalist and contributor to TheAviationist primarily based in Lecce, Italy. A graduate in Industral Engineering he is additionally learning to attain a Grasp Diploma in Aerospace Engineering. Digital Warfare, Loitering Munitions and OSINT strategies utilized to the world of army operations and present conflicts are amongst his areas of experience.
