Ukraine targets Russian command with storm shadow blitz
The Ukrainians launched an attack on Lgow in the Kursk region using at least six Storm Shadow cruise missiles. We explain the target and highlight the capabilities of the British-French missiles used.
Footage from Lgow has surfaced online, showing a fire at the targeted site. Russian media reports indicate at least six soldiers were killed and 22 wounded. It appears the target was a command bunker for the counteroffensive in the Kursk region, as little else could justify using at least six very valuable and scarce cruise missiles, Storm Shadow / SCALP.
This is the second attack on a command bunker in the Kursk region. In the previous attack, high-ranking officers from North Korea were reportedly killed so that a similar scenario might have occurred this time as well.
Storm Shadow missiles — Europe's long arm
These missiles result from a French-British collaboration in the 1990s and are produced as Storm Shadow in the UK and SCALP in France. Structurally, they are stealth missiles designed to be launched from aircraft, featuring a range of approximately 480 kilometres for domestic use and 300 kilometres for export clients due to Missile Technology Control Regime restrictions.
The Storm Shadow / SCALP missiles weigh about 1,300 kilograms, with the BROACH warhead weighing 450 kilograms. The remaining weight mainly involves the turbojet engine and fuel, which enable the missiles to achieve subsonic speeds of 0.8 to 0.9 Mach.
The BROACH warhead is multifunctional and consists of two elements: a shaped charge for destroying or exposing the top layer of the target and the main penetrating warhead. It is equipped with a Multi-Application Fuze Initiation System (MAFIS) detonator, allowing for a detonation delay of up to 240 milliseconds. Despite its effectiveness, this solution is less advanced than the TAURUS KEPD 350. The SCALP / Storm Shadow warhead operates in various modes:
- detonation on impact with the target,
- airburst, creating a shower of fragments,
- delayed detonation.
The precision and power of the impact are possible due to point accuracy in all conditions. The guidance of these missiles relies not only on the inertial and satellite system but also on an infrared sensor that detects the thermal image of the target (IIR). It also can scan the terrain and compare it with a preloaded map, providing accurate navigation even in scenarios of strong GPS jamming.
Currently, the Ukrainians use modified Su-24 aircraft to carry these missiles, but in 2025, they are expected to be joined by Mirage 2000 aircraft from France. Storm Shadow / SCALP missiles are currently the only Ukrainian arsenal adapted for destroying fortified structures such as bunkers.
