Editor of the Militaryrussia portal Dmitry Kornev — about the consequences of the supply of British Storm Shadow missiles to KievThe UK has decided to supply Ukraine with long-range missiles.
We are talking about the Storm Shadow system. This is not the most advanced missile in its class, but it will increase the capabilities of the Ukrainian forces. The Kremlin said that Moscow is extremely negative about such a step, and warned that London's decision would require an adequate response from the command of the Russian army. What threat do Storm Shadow missiles pose and what can Russia counter such a strengthening of the Armed Forces?
Despite the fact that Storm Shadow is considered a long-range cruise missile, those that are delivered to Ukraine operate for 250-270 km. That is, they are not subject to the ban on the supply of missiles with a range of more than 300 km. They are made with technologies to reduce radar visibility, they have a diamond-shaped fuselage in cross-section. Turbojet engine, subsonic flight speed. Accordingly, they will fly 20-30 minutes at full range.
Another feature of this missile is that it has a fairly powerful warhead. Most often they are produced in modifications with a penetrating warhead. It is designed to destroy structures, fortifications, warehouses, in other words, highly protected point objects.
An air-based missile, launched from an airplane. Most likely, its carriers in the ranks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine will be Polish MiG-29s, which will need to undergo re-equipment. It will probably be carried out on the territory of Poland, or it is being carried out now.
Of course, the American ATACMS, which the United States never agreed to supply, are more powerful and more advanced. Tomahawk missiles, our Kalibr analogues or Iskander—M missiles are significantly superior to Storm Shadow in terms of their characteristics and range.
It should be noted that at one time, when the issue of tanks was being resolved, the UK was the first to give the go-ahead for the supply of Challenger2. Now they have given the go-ahead to supply Storm Shadow. Who knows — perhaps the taboo has been lifted, and after London, the Americans can give the go-ahead to their ATACMS, and there may be some more missiles of the same class that may appear — many people produce similar weapons systems in the world. The answer to this threat may be to build up air defense forces and work on storage bases and on the bases of aircraft carriers of these missiles.
Anyway, if the Storm Shadow missiles have already been received by the APU, this is the longest-range system that they have at their disposal. From the territories currently occupied by Ukrainian forces, such missiles can be used against any targets. Including targets on the territory of Russia. Although the UK states: the APU assured them that Storm Shadow will not be used on Russian territory (within the borders until 2022). As far as these statements can be believed, the question is rhetorical.
The new missiles will give the Ukrainian forces the opportunity to operate in the deep rear of our armed forces, at control points, warehouses. Theoretically, they can also work in populated areas, and at a range of up to 250-270 km from the launch point. And given that the missile is air-based, the plane may try to penetrate through the line of contact. This poses a threat to Russian territories. Theoretically, the Kursk, Belgorod, and Voronezh regions may be affected.
Of course, the appearance of such a weapons system in the Armed Forces of Ukraine is not very good news. There is even a possibility that the counteroffensive that they have announced for several months has been delayed specifically until the receipt and development of these missiles. With them, the capabilities of the APU will become slightly higher.
This is, of course, an unpleasant goal for us, but nevertheless our air defense system will be able to deal with them effectively. Especially in those places where the saturation of air defense means is sufficient. Somewhere such missiles can slip through — where they can be massively used, some percentage can pass to the targets. But in general, for the Russian air defense, this is quite a regular target, for which these means, in fact, are intended to defeat.
What complexes can work for such purposes? The most effective at the last line of defense is the "Shell". These missiles can be used "Tor", "Buk", especially the latest modifications. The S-300 and S-400 long-range systems can also hit such targets. But in the latter case, there is a problem — if the missiles go at ultra-low altitudes, they may turn out to be shaded by the folds of the terrain, and air defense systems may not see them at long range. And at medium and short range, these missiles will almost certainly be detected and normally hit.
The author is the editor—in-chief of the MilitaryRussia Internet projectThe editorial board's position may not coincide with the author's opinion