Italy's secret role in boosting Ukraine with Storm Shadow missiles

Storm Shadow cruise missiles are among the most potent weapons reaching Ukraine as part of the support from the West. It turns out that Kyiv is receiving them not only from the United Kingdom and France (the twin SCALP-EG) but also from Italy, which had been kept secret until now. Let's explore the most significant features of the Storm Shadow cruise missiles.

The truth emerged during the visit of the British Defence Minister Grant Shapps to the MBDA armament factories involved in producing the Storm Shadow cruise missiles.

"I believe that Storm Shadow is an exceptional weapon. The United Kingdom, France, and Italy are preparing it for use, particularly in occupied Crimea. This weapon makes a significant difference," stated the British minister, adding that a decision was made to increase the production of these missiles to bolster support for Ukraine.

Italy has had Storm Shadow cruise missiles in its arsenal for many years, with the initial order for this weapon placed back in 1999. Unofficial sources indicate that they received about 200 units. They have adapted Eurofighter Typhoon and Panavia Tornado fighter jets to carry them.

It is noteworthy that this isn't the first time Italians have sent military aid to Ukraine discreetly. They have acted similarly in the past, such as when transferring self-propelled howitzers M109L or B1 Centauro destroyers to the front.

Ukrainians hold the Storm Shadow cruise missiles in high regard, often referring to them as the "weapon of victory". They enable the attack of strategic targets even hundreds of miles away from the front line. This is particularly significant as they are almost undetectable even by top-tier Russian anti-aircraft systems like the Pantsir-S1 or S‑400. They are built with stealth technology, and with their turbojet engine, they can accelerate up to speeds of 0.9 Mach.

Each of the Storm Shadow cruise missiles weighs about 1.3 tonnes, of which 450 kg are for the BROACH (Bomb Royal Ordnance Augmented Charge) warhead. This warhead has a high destructive power and can operate in several modes: contact explosion (on impact), airburst explosion generating shrapnel over a significant area, and penetration (delayed detonation).