The long-range Scalp missile President Emmanuel Macron of France promised to give Ukraine last month was featured in a video by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on social media on Sunday, August 6th. Zelenesky uploaded the video on the same day that the Russian military attacked Ukrainian air bases. The cities of Khmelnytskyi and Rivne, both strategic targets, were bombarded. The Russian media said the strike destroyed a storage facility for aviation munitions, including Storm Shadow, the British variant of Scalp missile supplied by France.
Hangars with aviation equipment were destroyed at the Zaporizhia airfield to prevent Ukrainian aviation from supporting ground attacks. Special emphasis is being placed on the destruction of Ukrainian Su-24s, which are the only aircraft capable of using Storm Shadow and Scalp missiles.
On the same day, Ukrainian Air Force launched at least 2 “Storm Shadow/SCALP” Cruise Missiles against the Chongar and Henichesk Bridges, which are two of four Land-Routes connecting the Kherson Region of Southern Ukraine and the Crimean Peninsula; the Strike against the Henichesk Bridge caused Serious Structural and Roadway Damage, whereas the strike against the Chongar Bridge appears to have only caused Minor-Moderate Damage with some reports that Missile did not Fully-Detonate.
President Emmanuel Macron announced in mid-July that his administration had joined the United Kingdom in providing Scalp missiles to Ukraine. As with Storm Shadows, their range exceeds 250 kilometres (155 miles). Paris intends to send a total of 50 SCALP missiles to Kyiv. Germany has thus far refused to comply.
The SCALP cruise missile was based on the Apach missile, which Matra BAe Dynamics has been developing since 1984. This weapon is carried by the Rafale, Mirage 2000, and Eurofighter bombers in France. The weapon can also be launched from a submarine but must be equipped with two solid-fuel launchers.
The technical specifications of SCALP are comparable to those of its British equivalent. The French weapon is equipped with a TRI Microturbo 60-30 turbojet engine, which enables it to fly at low altitudes at velocities of up to 1050 kilometres per hour. Before the assault, it descends 50 metres from its initial altitude of 100 to 150 metres.
The weapon is equipped with a BROACH-type warhead capable of penetrating concrete barriers between five and seven metres thick. The missile has an infrared homing head and can identify targets using their thermal signatures. The missile’s onboard processor can determine the optimal dive angle for precise targeting.
Since Russia’s military operation began in February 2022, Western nations have been arming Ukraine. The support has grown from light artillery shells to heavier armaments like tanks. In recent months, Ukraine has pressured the West to provide it with fighter aircraft. The Kremlin has repeatedly cautioned against additional armament shipments to Kyiv.
