Documents
United Kingdom MBDA
Storm Shadow
An Anglo-French air-launched, low-observable cruise missile designed for deep-strike attacks on hardened and high-value targets well beyond air-defense range. Known as SCALP-EG in French service, it has seen combat use over Iraq, Libya, Syria and Ukraine.
In service since 2002 · 8 operator countries
Compiled from public sources ·primary reference ↗ ·last verified 2026-07-01
560
km range
0.8
Mach
450
kg warhead
💲 ≈ $3,000,000, Publicly cited export unit price estimate
Procurement snapshot
Availability & export
UK export-licensed
Subject to UK SPIRE licensing (ECJU); generally available to allied states.
Channel: Government-to-government or direct
Fielded & proven
Established · 8 operators
In service since 2002. Status: active · ~3,000 built.
Lifecycle cost (est.)
Unit cost known; one-shot / small-arms class has no meaningful O&S tail to model.
Interoperability
No standardised NATO calibre / datalink detected in public specs.
Derived guidance from public data, export regime by country of origin, lifecycle from the GAO ~30% acquisition rule. Verify eligibility, pricing and offsets with the manufacturer and your acquisition authority.
Full specifications
Performance
Speed, range, altitude and engagement capability.
| Max speed (Mach) Maximum speed as a multiple of the speed of sound. Mach 2+ is typical for air-superiority fighters. | 0.8 Mach |
|---|---|
| Range Maximum distance: ferry range for aircraft, operational range for vehicles, maximum engagement distance for missiles. Higher means more standoff or persistence. | 560 km |
Firepower
Armament, payload and guidance.
| Warhead Warhead mass. Heavier generally means larger effect radius, at the cost of range. | 450 kg |
|---|---|
| Warhead type Blast-fragmentation, shaped charge (HEAT), penetrator, thermobaric or nuclear-capable. | BROACH tandem-charge penetrator |
| Guidance How the weapon finds its target: inertial, GPS/GLONASS, active/semi-active radar, infrared, laser, TV, wire. | INS/GPS, Terrain-reference navigation, Imaging infrared terminal homing |
Physical
Dimensions, weight and crew.
| Length Overall length including gun/probe where applicable. | 5.1 m |
|---|---|
| Combat weight Fully loaded weight. Lighter eases transport and bridging limits; heavier often means more armor. | 1,300 kg |
Propulsion
Engine, power and fuel.
| Propulsion type Turbofan, turboshaft, diesel, gas turbine, solid-fuel rocket, ramjet… | Turbojet |
|---|
Program
Cost, production scale and operators.
| Unit cost Approximate flyaway/unit cost where public. Defense pricing varies hugely by contract, offsets and configuration. Lower is cheaper. | $3,000,000 |
|---|---|
| Units built Total production run. Higher means proven manufacturing, mature logistics and spares availability. | 3,000 |
| Operator countries Number of countries operating the system. More operators means broader support ecosystem. | 8 |
Specifications compiled from public MBDA and reference sources ↗. Published defense figures are approximations, treat comparisons as directional. Last verified 2026-07-01.
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BrahMos Frequently asked questions
What is the range of the MBDA Storm Shadow? +
The MBDA Storm Shadow has a maximum range of 560 km.
How much does the MBDA Storm Shadow weigh? +
The MBDA Storm Shadow has a combat weight of 1,300 kg.
What is the MBDA Storm Shadow used for? +
The MBDA Storm Shadow is a missile typically used for deep strike.
How many countries operate the MBDA Storm Shadow? +
The MBDA Storm Shadow is operated by 8 countries.
How much does the MBDA Storm Shadow cost? +
The MBDA Storm Shadow has an approximate unit cost of 3,000,000 USD. Defense pricing varies by contract, offsets and configuration, treat this as directional.
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Related coverage
Storm Shadow in the news
News conflict · Aug 16, 2026
Ukraine Hits Russian Rocket-Fuel Plant Feeding Iskander, Smerch
ATACMS and Storm Shadow missiles struck the Kamensk-Shakhtinsky plant that makes solid fuel for Uragan, Smerch, Tornado-S and Iskander missiles.
Article industry · Aug 15, 2026
Baltic GPS Jamming Can't Blind Most Missiles
Baltic GPS jamming hit a 2026 record, but WeaponSpecs' database shows only 30% of missiles reference GPS, and none of those rely on it alone.
Article guide · Jul 25, 2026
Why 78% of Cruise Missiles Still Fly Subsonic
21 of 27 cruise missiles in the WeaponSpecs database fly under Mach 1, 78%. It's a design choice: altitude beats speed as the real stealth lever.
News procurement · Jul 19, 2026
12 NATO Allies Pledge $50.66B for Deep Strike Missiles
A UK-led coalition of 12 NATO members is spending $50.66 billion over a decade on missiles reaching 300 to over 2,000 kilometers, a bet Europe needs its own deep-strike arsenal.
News procurement · Jul 10, 2026
12 NATO nations pledge $50B for 2,000km-range strike weapons
European coalition commits to co-developed long-range missiles, signaling strategic autonomy in defense as NATO accelerates modernization spending.
Article news · Jul 7, 2026
The Glide-Bomb Range Race: Russia vs the West
Russia's jet-powered UMPK-PD glide bomb is battlefield-reported at up to 200km, roughly double the West's leading combat-fielded glide munitions.