The video, published on the Air Force’s YouTube channel, captures the missiles being deployed from an altitude of approximately 500 meters at subsonic speeds. Notably, the Su-24 aircraft do not engage in anti-aircraft evasive maneuvers post-launch, indicating that the missiles were fired from a safe distance away from the front lines.
Prior to this release, the only available footage of Storm Shadow/SCALP missiles was from the manufacturer MBDA, dating back to the late 1990s and early 2000s. Despite their extensive use in conflicts such as Iraq, Libya, and Syria since 2003, this is the first time they have been seen in combat use by the Ukrainian Air Force.
In Ukraine, these high-precision missiles, provided by the United Kingdom, have been crucial in striking significant targets, including the Russian Black Sea Fleet headquarters in Sevastopol and a submarine. Delivered in May 2023, the Storm Shadow missiles have been a game-changer for Ukraine’s defence capabilities.
Initially, the UK had stipulated that these long-range missiles be used strictly within Ukrainian territory to avoid escalating the conflict. However, in a policy shift announced in July 2024, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer indicated that Ukraine could target military sites in Russia with these missiles, provided their use adhered to international humanitarian law. This announcement was seen as a pivotal change in policy and drew a strong response from Moscow, which condemned the move as “irresponsible” and warned of potential retaliatory measures.
