Ukrainian strike: Storm shadow missiles target Kursk bunker
The Ukrainians conducted an attack using at least six Storm Shadow cruise missiles on Lgow in the Kursk region. We explain what the target might have been and present the capabilities of the British-French missiles used.
Footage from Lgow has appeared online showing a fire at the targeted site, and Russian media reports at least six soldiers 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 would be the second attack on a command bunker in the Kursk region. In the last attack, high-ranking officers from North Korea were reportedly killed so that a repeat scenario might have occurred this time as well.
Storm Shadow missiles — Europe's long arm
These missiles resulted from a French-British collaboration in the 1990s. They are produced as Storm Shadow in the UK and SCALP in France. Structurally, they are stealth missiles designed for launch from aircraft. Due to Missile Technology Control Regime restrictions, they have a range of approximately 300 miles for domestic use and 186 miles for export clients.
The Storm Shadow / SCALP missiles weigh 1.3 tonnes, with the BROACH warhead weighing 450 kilograms. The rest of the weight is mainly due to the turbojet engine and fuel, which enable them 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 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.
Point accuracy in all conditions makes the precision and power of the impact possible. These missiles' guidance is based on the inertial and satellite systems and an infrared sensor that sees the thermal image of the target (IIR). The sensor can also 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.
