Storm Shadow Missile
The Storm Shadow / SCALP air-launched cruise missile is a British-French joint development and manufactured by the European consortium MBDA (Matra BAE Dynamics Alenia).
Wikimedia Commons
The French version of the missile is abbreviated SCALP EG, which translates as an autonomously guided multi-purpose, high-precision, long-range cruise missile. The product is equipped with a warhead weighing 450 kg, the firing range of Storm Shadow exceeds 250 km, the flight altitude is 30-40 m, the rocket speed is 0.8 M (approximately 1000 km/h).
The use of Storm Shadow ALCMs in military conflicts has been documented since 2003. During the conflict, the rocket showed a very high efficiency.
Will Ukraine be given GPS-guided smart bombs?
A few days ago, information emerged that the United States plans to transfer equipment to Ukraine to convert unguided aircraft ammunition into “smart bombs”. We are talking about the supply of equipment sets of Joint Direct Attack Munitions based on GPS technology, which transforms airborne free-fall bombs into high-precision weapons. We specifically note that JDAM compatibility is achieved with US-made aircraft and some samples of European-made aviation equipment (especially the Eurofighter Typhoon).
Wikimedia Commons
It would seem that the possible transfer of such weapons to Ukraine should significantly increase the combat capabilities of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. But there are some nuances here. First of all, we note that the combat and numerical strength of the Ukrainian Air Force is currently very limited and is represented by only a few dozen combat aircraft. That is, the Air Force of Ukraine does not currently represent a force that could represent a turning point in the armed struggle, supplying them or not supplying them with modern Western-made aviation weapons. They cannot objectively solve the problem of catching air superiority in its current form. Among other things, Ukrainian aircraft are equipped only with vehicles of Soviet design – MiG-29, Su-27, Su-24M, Su-25, Su-24MR.
First of all, let’s ask ourselves a question – is it possible to use a domestically-made fighter as a carrier of modern Western-made aviation weapons? As before Wrote “socialbites.ca”, this is not the easiest task, because in a figurative sense absolutely nothing fits rockets and bombs, and not to mention other features, nothing matches, even in purely geometric dimensions.
Even for free-falling aerial bombs, it will be necessary to radically remake the gun suspension units on any aircraft. With guided missiles, the situation will be even more difficult.
For them, beam holders are designed, on which a number of units and equipment are additionally mounted. In other words, to hang the AGM-88 HARM manufactured by Raytheon or the Storm Shadow developed by the MBDA concern under the domestic MiG-29 requires significant mechanical changes in the design of the aircraft. But all this is still in bloom when compared, as they say, with the necessary changes to the avionics of the fighter in general, and the sighting and navigation system in particular.
These changes can be so large and voluminous that in practice they have only one meaning – a redesign of the aircraft. It is easier to make a new fighter than, for example, completely adapting the MiG-29 to use the AGM-88 HARM (Storm Shadow or any other air-to-ground guided missile).
At the same time, during the armed conflict in Ukraine, cases of combat use of AGM-88 HARM anti-radar missiles manufactured by Raytheon by the Ukrainian armed forces against Russian air defense systems were recorded.
For this, MiG-29 type fighters were used for the suspension of the AGM-88 HARM to replace the underwing masts of this aircraft with a semi-manual work, thereby introducing the minimum possible changes in the electrical circuits of the carrier. situation. However, for the above reasons, the results, as they say, turned out to be so – the desired effectiveness of combat use in Russian electronic means of the AGM-88 HARM was not achieved (there was much more noise than real successes). If you use Soviet-designed aircraft, roughly the same thing will happen with Storm Shadow. Slovak MiG-29s will also not help significantly in this regard.
For a radical solution to the problem and more on this before Wrote “Gazeta.ru” it is necessary to re-equip the Ukrainian Air Force with multifunctional fighters of Western production in the amount of at least 72-108 units. Saab JAS-39E / F Gripen, F-16 Block 70/72 or F-15 machines can take on the role of such a 4 ++ generation aircraft. And along with the supply of multi-functional fighters, the corresponding aviation weapons should also be supplied at the same time. Only in this case it is possible to achieve the planned effect. Everything else is palliative.
Saab JAS 39 Gripen
Global Overview Press
In general, the transfer of modern weapons to Ukraine has recently intensified significantly, both in terms of intentions and actual deliveries. In addition to aviation weapons, the most modern anti-aircraft missile systems and the transfer of Western-made complexes to the Armed Forces of Ukraine are on the agenda.
As Russia destroyed critical infrastructure facilities in Ukrainian cities using Iranian-made drones during a special military operation, Kyiv requested the supply of additional air defense systems from Western countries. Particularly painful for the Ukrainian side were the attacks on Kiev based on cruise missiles and ammunition of various types.
As previously written”Newspaper.ru“France and Italy will send SAMP/T anti-aircraft missile systems to the Ukrainian Armed Forces. This was reported by the Defense Blog, citing the statement of Etienne de Ponsin, the French Ambassador to Ukraine.
Anti-aircraft missile system SAMP-T
The SAMP / T air defense system (the EUROSAM Ground system, named “Mamba” in the French Air Force), which entered service with the Italian army in 2013, is designed for anti-aircraft missile protection of the country’s facilities and from attacks by all types of air strikes, including tactical ballistic missiles. armed forces. The complex operates in all weather conditions and harsh interference conditions.
The composition of the SAMP / T air defense system includes: a fire control system with a multifunctional radar with PAR Buffer; Self-propelled launchers with eight transport-launch containers on Astra/Iveco automobile chassis (for Italy) and Renault-TRM-10000 (for France), wheel arrangement 8×8; ASTER-30 anti-aircraft guided missiles.
SAMP-T SAM
Wikimedia Commons
The SAMP-T air defense system is distinguished by a high rate of fire and minimal response time. Eight missiles can be launched from one launcher in just 10 seconds. The firing range of the complex reaches 100 km. The upper limit of the affected area is 25 km.
In addition, Washington is currently finalizing plans to supply Patriot systems to Ukraine.
The Patriot anti-aircraft missile system (and even in the PAC-3 version) is, without exaggeration, a set of high technologies of the military-industrial complex of the United States. And if the White House decides to transfer such an advanced anti-aircraft missile armament to Ukraine, then the problem of supplying Kiev with Western-style main battle tanks, such as the German Leopard 2 and Marder type infantry fighting vehicles, will be resolved. in the near future.
In this case, as before Wrote “socialbites.ca”, the Pentagon, and the White House will have every reason to declare to their allies in the North Atlantic Alliance – “We are providing Ukraine with a high-tech system worth one billion dollars and you still have doubts and hesitations worth six million dollars per unit. about the transfer of tanks?”
It should also be noted that after the transfer of Patriot air defense systems and heavy armored vehicles to Ukraine, only half a step remains for the delivery of F-15 and F-16 warplanes to the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
Source: Gazeta
Barbara Dickson is a seasoned writer for “Social Bites”. She keeps readers informed on the latest news and trends, providing in-depth coverage and analysis on a variety of topics.