Storm shadow missile strike devastates Russian drone depot
The Ukrainian Armed Forces struck an underground depot containing Shahed drones in Russia's Oryol region using Storm Shadow missiles, as reported by the Ukrainian news agency Unian.
The Ukrainian military successfully targeted an underground bunker in Russia's Oryol region. This facility stored Shahed drones for the Russian Federation's army. The attack was performed using Storm Shadow missiles, which hit the underground bunker containing the hostile drones. These details were shared by OSINT analysts, who released satellite images.
Consequences of the attack
"As a result of the attack on the unmanned aerial vehicle storage facility in the Oryol region, Storm Shadow missiles hit the underground bunker containing enemy drones," reads a Telegram post.
According to information from the Ukrainian General Staff, approximately 200 Shahed drones were destroyed during the operation.
Storm Shadow missiles hit Shahed depot
The Storm Shadow missiles, utilized by the Ukrainian forces in the strike, represent advanced "fire and forget" military missile technology. Once the target is identified and the missile is launched, no further handling is needed, ensuring high efficiency. The missile employs a combination of inertial guidance, GPS, and TERPROM, which adapts to terrain contours, allowing it to strike its target precisely. It flies at an altitude between 40 to 150 metres, making detection challenging. The margin of error in hitting the target is only between 0.3 and 3 metres.
Before reaching the target, the Storm Shadow releases a high-resolution thermal imaging camera to confirm the target. The missile then increases its altitude to enhance the strike’s effectiveness. An integral part of the missile's operation is the BROACH warhead, which acts in two stages. The first stage involves creating a hole in the target, and the second stage involves the complete destruction of the object by the warhead's main elements.
Meanwhile, the Shahed-136 drones are noted for their simple construction and relatively low production costs. A distinct feature of these drones is their open delta-wing design. They are approximately 3.3 metres long, with a wingspan of about 2.4 metres. These drones can carry combat payloads weighing up to 40 kilograms. Powered by a Limbach L550E engine, the drones can reach a maximum speed of about 185 kilometres per hour. This technical specification makes them highly effective for various military purposes.
