Storm Shadow (also known as Conventionally-Armed
Stand-Off Missile or CASOM) is a long-range, air-launched,
stand-off attack missile that will allow the RAF to attack
high-priority targets deep inside enemy territory without
exposing the launch aircraft to high-intensity enemy air
defences.
The missile is the BAe version (with some UK enhancements)
of the French Matra APACHE/SCALP missile and entered
service in late 2002.
It is already in-service on the Tornado GR4 and Harrier
GR7/GR9 and will be carried by the
Typhoon. The RAF is believed to have purchased an initial
batch of 500 missiles. The programme cost is some £980m.
Storm Shadow was deployed operationally and fired with
tremendous success during the 2003 Iraq War.
STORM SHADOW
Specifications
|
Length
|
5.1m
|
Diameter
|
0.48m
|
Span
|
2.84m
|
Weight
|
1,300kg
|
Propulsion
|
TRI 60-30 Turbofan
|
Range
|
Estimate 350km
|
Guidance
|
Navigation using (TERrain PROfile Matching) system as
well as GPS, Terminal guidance using imaging infra-red
sensor, Autonomous target recognition algorithms,
BROACH warhead.
|
STORM
SHADOW - Conventionally Armed Stand Off Missile (CASOM)
Following an international competition involving six companies, Matra
BAe Dynamics UK (MBD) Storm Shadow weapons system was selected to meet
the RAF’s Staff Requirement for a Conventionally Armed Stand Off Missile
(CASOM). The contract was placed with MBD in February 1997.
MBD’s Storm Shadow
system is based on the proven technology used in the French Apache
anti-runway missile. Storm Shadow is an air-launched,
conventionally-armed, long-range, stand-off, precision weapon, which is
deployable at night or day, in most weather and operational conditions.
It is being developed to attack and destroy a wide spectrum of static,
high value targets as listed below:
Command Control and Communications facilities
-
Airfield facilities
-
Port facilities
-
ASM/ammo storage
-
Ships/submarines in port
-
Bridges.
Storm Shadow will be
integrated onto Tornado GR4/4A and Typhoon. It will be capable of
employment in all theatres of conflict, and the warhead is optimised for
use against hardened targets.
The Storm Shadow missile
requirement embodies the following key features:
-
Very long range
-
Fire and forget, with fully autonomous guidance
-
Low level terrain following
-
Stealth design
-
Effective penetrator warhead
-
High reliability
-
All up round [ensures high system readiness]
-
Low cost of ownership
ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT
The Storm Shadow weapon system comprises:
-
The operational missile and its All Up Round Container (AURC)
-
Mission Planning Infrastructure
-
Data Programming System
-
The Ground/Air Training missile (GATM) and its AURC
GENERAL
CHARACTERISTICS/TECHNICAL PERFORMANCE
The Storm Shadow missile is derived from the Apache Anti Runway missile.
Key elements of this proven technology have been retained for Storm
Shadow, but the following major modifications are being introduced to
meet the particular Storm Shadow requirements:
-
New guidance and navigation based on TERPROM [TERrain PROfile
Matching] terrain navigation with an integrated GPS
-
Terminal guidance using imaging infra-red sensor and autonomous
target recognition system
-
The high lethality of the system is achieved by the use of a BROACH
[Bomb Royal Ordnance Augmented Charge] unitary warhead.
-
The missile weighs approximately 1,300 kilograms and is just over
five metres long. Its maximum diameter is under one metre, and with
its wings deployed, under three metres.
MISSION
PLANNING
The first phase of the mission planning regime ensures that the missile
navigates to the target with maximum survivability and then enters a
robust target acquisition and terminal guidance phase. For complex and
pre-determined missions, much of this data would have been pre-prepared
earlier at the Command Headquarters. Following an Air Tasking Order, the
Squadron would prepare the mission data file with the pre-planned data,
together with the latest operational intelligence.
TERMINAL PHASE
On approaching the terminal phase, the missile will initiate a bunt
manoeuvre, pre-selected during mission planning, to obtain the best
combination of acquisition probability and lethality against the target.
As the missile climbs, it will jettison its nose cover, thereby enabling
the missile high resolution imaging infra-red sensor to view the target
area ahead.
The missile’s image processor will compare the actual image features
with a reference set of features, determined during mission planning.
When a feature match is achieved the target will be acquired and the
required aim point selection tracked and used as the reference for the
missile terminal guidance.
As the missile closes in on the target the acquisition process will be
repeated with a higher resolution data set to refine the aim point.
Tracking will continue against this refined aim point until the precise
target location is identified.
TARGET ENGAGEMENT
When engaging hard targets, such as Hardened Aircraft Shelters or
bunkers, the missile will strike the target at the estimated optimum
dive angle, selected during mission planning. On impact the detonation
sequence commences. The precursor charge will perforate the target
structure, and any soil covering, and the follow through penetrator
warhead will continue to penetrate inside the target to be detonated
after a pre-selectable fuse delay.
Should the mission be against a target with potential high collateral
damage, the mission will be aborted if the target identification and
acquisition process is unsuccessful. In this case the missile will fly
to a predetermined crash site.
COSTS / IN-SERVICE
DATE (ISD) / MAJOR MILESTONES / QUANTITIES
The programme value is for £981 million.
MILESTONES
Major milestones were:
-
Air carriage clearance - Early 2000
-
First guided firing - December 2000
-
Design freeze - Early 2002
-
In Service Date - Late 2002
COMMERCIAL ASPECTS
The contract for the development and production of Storm Shadow was
placed with Matra BAe Dynamics (UK) Ltd in February 1997 after a
competitive tender exercise. This was one of the first contracts to be
placed with this contractor. Matra BAe Dynamics (UK) Ltd is a subsidiary
of Matra BAe Dynamics SAS, a company jointly owned by BAe plc and
Lagardere SCA.
Matra BAe Dynamics
(France) Ltd has won the SCALP EG contract from the French Government.
SCALP EG is the same weapon as Storm Shadow apart from national aspects
related to both countries.
The two parts of Matra
BAe Dynamics act as separate Prime Contractors and hold the individual
Storm Shadow and SCALP EG contracts for their respective national
Governments.
This has resulted in an
industry collaborative programme that has undertaken certain aspects of
the work normally handled by both Governments, such as the harmonisation
of national requirements and the merging of national procurement
methods. These aspects are exclusively carried out by Matra BAe Dynamics
by a fully integrated French and UK management and engineering team. The
two similar, but not identical, Government technical requirements have
been fully harmonised into a single common technical solution.
This common solution is
shared by the subcontractors who only have a single subcontract which
embraces the joint requirements.
This has resulted in a
collaborative programme which is largely transparent to both
Governments, and attracts little of the procurement overheads often
associated with Government collaborative programmes. This approach has
also had the added benefit of driving down costs and enabled both
Governments to obtain more weapons for their money.
Photo
Copyright MBDA
COMPANIES
INVOLVED WITH THIS PROJECT
|
SELEX GALILEO - Storm Shadow infrared seeker enhanced to
seek hardened and buried targets (high-resolution imagery of
scenes and targets achieving pinpoint accuracy). |
|