The UK government on Thursday announced it would send Storm Shadow missiles to Ukraine, becoming the first country to provide longer-range weapons to Kyiv.
"Today I can confirm that the UK is donating Storm Shadow missiles to Ukraine," Defence Secretary Ben Wallace, said.
"The donation of these weapons systems gives Ukraine the best chance to defend themselves against Russia's continued brutality."
The news means Kyiv now has the long-range strike capability that President Zelensky has been demanding ahead of the much-anticipated Ukrainian counteroffensive.
Storm Shadow is a fire and forget cruise missile developed by MBDA missile systems, a joint venture between three European aerospace and defense companies.
The ‘export’ version of the missile has a 300 km range and has been modified to allow it to operate from Ukraine’s existing fleet of former-Soviet aircraft without further adjustment. It uses GPS, terrain mapping and other sensors to deliver the 450kg, two stage ‘Bomb Royal Ordnance Augmented Charge’ (BROACH) warhead onto the target.
If provided in sufficient quantities these missiles could be a game changer, allowing Ukrainian forces to interdict Russian logistic facilities and resupply lines, headquarters and other military infrastructure well beyond the front line.
The deployment of the missiles comes as Ukrainian forces prepare to launch a counteroffensive intended to retake Kremlin-held territory in the eastern and the southern parts of the country.
EXPLAINED: How Ukraine Could Soon Achieve a ‘Significant Breakthrough’ in the South
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in his address on May 10 that they still need “a bit more time” before any counteroffensive, in order to allow some more of the promised Western military aid to arrive in country.
In its article ‘Report Suggests Ukraine Could Soon Receive Storm Shadow Missiles – Here’s What You Need to Know’ on May 9, Kyiv Post reported that a call for interest (CFI) had been put out to industry at the beginning of May through the International Fund for Ukraine (IFU) mechanism for a ‘missile or rocket’ system, the specifications of which closely matched the UK’s Storm Shadow cruise missile.
It is estimated the UK currently holds between 700–1000 Storm Shadow missiles. Britain may have supplied the Ukraine from these stocks, with the aim of the IFU request to acquire stocks to backfill those missiles provided to Ukraine.
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Comments (7)
Why not use these to drop the Kerch bridge and trap the Black Sea fleet in the Sea of Azov? Then Ukraine can ignore the Russian grain restrictions out of Odesa etc. Just a thought.
Game changer.
these missiles will cut the mobility (fuel depots) and firepower (ammo depots) of the Russian troops
Good light them up
About bleeding time !
Hopefully now the rest will follow and stop worrying about escalation it's too late for that!!!
For a long time, Ukraine has been asking for the US-made surface-to-surface Army Tactical Missile Systems, or ATACMS which has a longer range. But due to Biden's cowardice, the US refuses. Biden is afraid of Putin's response. I'm happy Ukraine will receive Storm Shadow missiles. This will be a great help. However, the West still is not supplying the necessary weaponry to force negotiations. Putin must feel he's losing before he'll come to the table. Ukraine needs long-range precision missiles, and not just a few either, but as many as it takes to send Putin to the negotiating table and they need F-16 fighter jets and attack helicopters. Putin must feel that the war is shifting in Ukraine's favor. As much as we want Ukraine to have a decisive victory, in reality lasting peace will only come at the negotiating table. Putin must feel the tide has shifted. He doesn't feel that way yet. That's why military might is so important.
Watch the video, “Ukraine's Zelensky: How the President Went From Comedian to Wartime Hero”
https://thoughtlife-god.webnode.page/help-ukraine
@ThoughtLife.God, It seem you didn´t watch Mr. Trump yesterday talking about Ukraine, Putin and so on. If Mr. Biden has refused to far to send jets and long-range missiles, Mr. Trump made clear that if he wins reelection there will be no military aid to Ukraine (the only way to end the war in 24 hours, although that is again false, as the Ukranians are not going to stop fighting even if US stop suplying arms).
@Barruntaranchos, Trump never shows his hand. He won't let his adversaries know in advance what he plans to do or what he's thinking. In March while speaking with Republican donors in New Orleans. Trump seemed to indicate that he disagreed with NATO's actions since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and that, perhaps, if he had won the 2020 election, NATO would have been more actively involved in stopping the conflict.
Trump said."Are all of these nations going to stand by and watch perhaps millions of people be slaughtered as the onslaught continues? At what point do countries say, 'No, we can't take this massive crime against humanity?' We can't let it happen. We can't let it continue to happen."
And I ask the same question, how much more innocent blood must be spilled in Ukraine before the West is totally fed up with Vladimir Putin? The world waited for Hitler to extinguish 6 million Jews before they were fed up. How many Ukrainians must spill their blood until NATO and the world has had enough. The death count has already surpassed 300,000 from both sides. Are we waiting until the count reaches 6 million? If NATO won't get involved, at least give Ukraine the military might that it needs to send Putin to the negotiating table; namely F-16's and long range missiles.
Watch the video, “Ukraine's Zelensky: How the President Went From Comedian to Wartime Hero”
https://thoughtlife-god.webnode.page/help-ukraine
@ThoughtLife.God, You seem to be simply a Trump lover. Trump Deluded Scum
During the Falklands campaign Argentina had some French Exocet missiles and they managed an incredible adaption that allowed them to fire what was an Air/Naval launched missile from an adapted truck base ! I am not aware of any of the Storm Shadow's requirements for its launch platform but I have history of seeing the abilities of Ukraine servicemen in a 'make-do-and-mend' during time with them on UN missions. Perhaps it can be adapted for some kind of land launch.