Ukrainian Air Force showcases SCALP EG missile on Su-24М

The Ukrainian Air Force demonstrated a Su-24М tactical bomber armed with a SCALP EG cruise missile.

These missiles were transferred to Ukraine by France as part of military assistance.

The presentation of these foreign air-launched cruise missiles took place during the celebration of Air Force Day of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Sunday, July 6.

At the military airfield, President Volodymyr Zelensky examined, in particular, the Su-25 attack aircraft, Su-24М bomber, Su-27 and MiG-29 fighters, as well as the missiles used with them.

The Office of the President published corresponding photos where Zelensky makes an inscription on the SCALP EG missile under the right wing of the Su-24М bomber.

The Commander of the Air Force of the Armed Forces, Lieutenant General Mykola Oleshchuk, noted that the combat aircraft were modernized to use weapons provided by partners, in particular ZUNI air-surface missiles, Storm Shadow (SCALP EG) cruise missiles and AGM HARM anti-radiation missiles.

In addition, during the celebrations, Volodymyr Zelensky, Minister of Defense Oleksii Reznikov, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Valerii Zaluzhnyi and Air Force Commander Mykola Oleshchuk took part in the redemption of the postage stamp and envelope “Evil Fighters,” which Ukrposhta released for Air Force Day.

Later, Ihor Smilianskyi, General Director of Ukrposhta published a short video with the French SCALP EG cruise missile.

He also shared a photo showing that the Ukrainian bomber was not only armed with a missile from France during the celebrations. Su-24М was also equipped with the British Storm Shadow version of this cruise missile under the left wing.

On July 11, French President Emmanuel Macron said that his country would provide Ukraine with SCALP cruise missiles to hit targets in the rear of the Russian invaders forces. French army-linked sources told reporters the missiles would come from French army stockpiles, adding there would be a “significant number”. The media reported that it regarded about 50 missiles. The United Kingdom provided similar missiles to Ukraine.

SCALP EG/Storm Shadow

The Franco-British Storm Shadow/SCALP EG is a long-range air-to-ground air-launched cruise missile. It is designed to low-altitude penetration air defense systems and destroy important stationary targets, in particular bunkers. The 5.1 meter long missile has a flight weight of up to 1,300 kg, while the mass of its warhead is 450 kg.

The French version of the missile called SCALP EG and the British Storm Shadow are generally identical, the differences are only in software and type of aircraft that are designed to carry this missile. The stated operational range of the cruise missile is over 250 km in the export version and up to 560 km for the army of France and Britain.