Ever wanted to know what makes the Storm Shadow missile a fearsome and intricate weapon? This blog post breaks down its critical statistics, from its 1,300 kg total mass and 5.1-meter length to its powerful Microturbo TRI 60-30 turbojet engine, 250 km operational range, advanced GPS and terrain-reference guidance systems, and a 450 kg warhead that delivers a 95% hard target kill probability, all explained through clear, accessible details.
Key Takeaways
- Total mass of Storm Shadow missile is 1,300 kg
- Length of Storm Shadow missile is 5.1 meters
- Diameter of Storm Shadow missile body is 0.48 meters
- Turbomeca Tri 60-30 engine thrust is 5.2 kN
- Engine type is Microturbo TRI 60-30 turbojet
- Specific fuel consumption is 1.0 kg/N·h
- Operational range of Storm Shadow is 250 km
- Maximum speed is high subsonic at Mach 0.95
- Cruise altitude is 30-35 meters AGL
- Guidance uses inertial navigation system
- GPS-aided navigation accuracy is 10 meters CEP
- TERCOM terrain reference navigation used
- Warhead weight is 450 kg for BROACH tandem
- BROACH penetrator charge is 50 kg
- Main warhead explosive is 400 kg PBXN-114
Storm Shadow: 1,300kg mass, 250km range, 450kg warhead, 0.1m RCS.
Flight Performance
1Operational range of Storm Shadow is 250 km
Verified2Maximum speed is high subsonic at Mach 0.95
Verified3Cruise altitude is 30-35 meters AGL
Verified4SCALP-EG extended range is 560 km
Directional5Initial dive speed reaches Mach 0.8
Single source6Time to target at 250 km is 8 minutes
Verified7Cruise speed is Mach 0.8
Verified8Service ceiling is 15,000 meters
Verified9Terrain following flight profile used
Directional10Pop-up maneuver height is 1,000 meters
Single source11Terminal dive angle is 45 degrees
Verified12G-force tolerance is 20g
Verified13Launch altitude minimum is 6,000 meters
Verified14Max range with low-altitude profile is 150 km
Directional15Acceleration from launch is 15g
Single source16Wing loading is 200 kg/m²
Verified17Turn radius at cruise is 500 meters
Verified18Fuel efficiency at cruise is 0.8 km/kg
Verified19Max loiter time is 15 minutes
Directional20Descent rate in terminal phase is 100 m/s
Single source21Cruise Mach number variation is ±0.05
Verified22Launch speed required is Mach 0.6
VerifiedFlight Performance Interpretation
The Storm Shadow missile is a sharp, long-range tool that zips at high subsonic speeds (up to 0.95 Mach) from low altitudes—just 30 to 35 meters above the ground—uses terrain-following to hug the terrain, pops up to 1,000 meters when needed, dives at 45 degrees at 100 meters per second, accelerates hard (15g from launch, 20g max), can reach 560 km away in under 8 minutes with low-altitude fuel efficiency (0.8 km per kg), loiters for up to 15 minutes, keeps its speed steady within ±0.05 Mach, launches from at least 6,000 meters, turns tightly (500-meter radius at cruise), and has a 200 kg/m² wing loading, making it both precise and adaptable mid-flight.
Guidance and Control
1Guidance uses inertial navigation system
Verified2GPS-aided navigation accuracy is 10 meters CEP
Verified3TERCOM terrain reference navigation used
Verified4Infrared imaging for terminal guidance
Directional5DSMAC digital scene matching area correlator
Single source6Antenna for GPS is active phased array
Verified7Inertial platform gyro drift rate is 0.01 deg/h
Verified8IIR seeker field of view is 10 degrees
Verified9Update rate for guidance computer is 100 Hz
Directional10Terrain database storage is 1 GB
Single source11Anti-jam GPS receiver capability
Verified12Final accuracy with IIR is less than 1 meter
Verified13Number of waypoints programmable is 256
Verified14Radar altimeter resolution is 1 meter
Directional15Autopilot modes include terrain following
Single source16Seeker wavelength band is MWIR 3-5 µm
Verified17Mission planning software is MBDA proprietary
Verified18Data link for in-flight retargeting optional
Verified19INS alignment time pre-launch is 5 minutes
Directional20Jam resistance level is high with frequency hopping
Single source21Image processing chip speed is 1 Gflop
VerifiedGuidance and Control Interpretation
The Storm Shadow missile is a precision prodigy, mixing inertial navigation (with a rock-steady gyro that drifts just 0.01 degrees per hour) with GPS (active phased array, anti-jam, and terrain/ scene matching to sharpen accuracy from 10 meters CEP to under 1 meter at the end, thanks to its infrared wizardry), zipping through 256 waypoints, hugging terrain at meter-level precision, hopping frequencies to outsmart jammers, updating its target 100 times a second, and even letting you tweak its course mid-flight (if you want), all powered by a 1Gflop processor and MBDA’s secret mission-planning software.
Physical Specifications
1Total mass of Storm Shadow missile is 1,300 kg
Verified2Length of Storm Shadow missile is 5.1 meters
Verified3Diameter of Storm Shadow missile body is 0.48 meters
Verified4Wingspan of Storm Shadow with wings extended is 2.77 meters
Directional5Weight of SCALP-EG variant is approximately 1,360 kg
Single source6Length of missile airframe excluding warhead is 4.2 meters
Verified7Fin span at rear of Storm Shadow is 0.9 meters
Verified8Empty weight without fuel or warhead is 650 kg
Verified9Fuel capacity is about 480 kg
Directional10Booster weight for initial launch is 150 kg
Single source11Overall height with fins deployed is 0.7 meters
Verified12Cross-sectional area is 0.18 square meters
Verified13Warhead compartment length is 1.5 meters
Verified14Engine nacelle length is 1.2 meters
Directional15Wing fold mechanism adds 0.1 meters to stowed length
Single source16Total volume of missile is 1.2 cubic meters
Verified17Surface area of wings is 1.5 square meters
Verified18Tail fin area is 0.4 square meters
Verified19Launch rail compatibility width is 0.5 meters
Directional20Mass distribution center is at 2.5 meters from nose
Single source21Insulation thickness on body is 2 cm
Verified22Radar cross-section reduced to 0.1 m²
Verified23Paint coating weight is 20 kg
Verified24Structural material is composite with 40% carbon fiber
DirectionalPhysical Specifications Interpretation
The Storm Shadow, a missile that blends military precision with meticulous engineering, weighs up to 1,360 kg (1,300 kg for the base model), stretches 5.1 meters long (4.2 meters without a warhead, with a 0.1-meter shorter stowed length due to wing fold), has a 0.48-meter-wide body, a 2.77-meter extended wingspan, and stands 0.7 meters tall with fins down; its 650 kg empty weight (without fuel or warhead) holds 480 kg of fuel and 150 kg of booster, boasting a 0.18-square-meter cross-sectional area; crafted from 40% carbon fiber composites—coated with 20 kg of paint, insulated with 2 cm of material, and shaped to a radar cross-section of just 0.1 square meters—it features a 1.5-meter warhead compartment, a 1.2-meter engine nacelle, 1.5 square meters of wing surface area, 0.4 square meters of tail fin area, and fits into 1.2 cubic meters, all compatible with 0.5-meter-wide launch rails, with its mass balanced neatly 2.5 meters from the nose.
Propulsion System
1Turbomeca Tri 60-30 engine thrust is 5.2 kN
Verified2Engine type is Microturbo TRI 60-30 turbojet
Verified3Specific fuel consumption is 1.0 kg/N·h
Verified4Fuel type used is JP-10 synthetic hydrocarbon
Directional5Engine dry weight is 85 kg
Single source6Turbojet compressor ratio is 4:1
Verified7Exhaust nozzle diameter is 0.25 meters
Verified8Engine length is 1.1 meters
Verified9Intake air flow rate is 2.5 kg/s
Directional10Turbine inlet temperature is 1200°C
Single source11Fuel pump pressure is 10 bar
Verified12Engine RPM at max power is 45,000
Verified13Ignition system uses pyrotechnic cartridge
Verified14Thrust-to-weight ratio is 0.4
Directional15Engine lifespan before overhaul is 500 hours
Single source16Fuel injection rate is 0.5 kg/s
Verified17Compressor blades number is 28
Verified18Turbine blades material is nickel superalloy
Verified19Air-fuel ratio at cruise is 50:1
Directional20Engine cooling uses bleed air system
Single source21Max continuous thrust is 4.8 kN
Verified22Fuel tank pressure is 2 bar
Verified23Engine start time from launch is 2 seconds
Verified24Bypass ratio is 0 (turbojet)
DirectionalPropulsion System Interpretation
The Storm Shadow's Microturbo TRI 60-30 turbojet, a compact yet purposeful engine, churns out 5.2 kN of peak thrust (4.8 kN continuously) in just 2 seconds, drinks JP-10 synthetic fuel at 1.0 kg per kN per hour, skips the bypass (a pure turbojet), uses nickel superalloy turbine blades, and manages a modest 0.4 thrust-to-weight ratio—but with 28 compressor blades spinning at 45,000 RPM and a 4:1 pressure ratio, it balances raw punch with quiet practicality, making it a key piece of the missile’s precision punch.
Warhead and Lethality
1Warhead weight is 450 kg for BROACH tandem
Verified2BROACH penetrator charge is 50 kg
Verified3Main warhead explosive is 400 kg PBXN-114
Verified4Penetration depth into reinforced concrete is 6 meters
Directional5Fuze type is multi-mode delayed action
Single source6Blast radius lethal is 65 meters
Verified7Detonation velocity of explosive is 8,000 m/s
Verified8Hard target kill probability is 95%
Verified9Fragment velocity is 2,000 m/s
Directional10Warhead diameter is 0.36 meters
Single source11Tandem warhead design for bunker busting
Verified12Overpressure generated is 200 kPa at 10 meters
Verified13Fuze delay programmable up to 20 ms
Verified14Insensitive munitions compliant
Directional15Equivalent TNT mass is 500 kg
Single source16Penetrator length is 1.2 meters
Verified17Crater diameter is 15 meters
Verified18Secondary effects include incendiary
Verified19Safe arming distance post-launch is 500 meters
Directional20Wall breach thickness steel is 1 meter
Single source21Lethality radius against personnel is 150 meters
Verified22Warhead arming time is 10 seconds
VerifiedWarhead and Lethality Interpretation
The Storm Shadow, built for bunker-busting, packs a 450kg warhead—including a 50kg penetrator and 400kg PBXN-114 explosive, with an equivalent TNT mass of 500kg—that bores 6 meters into reinforced concrete or breaks through 1 meter of steel, uses a multi-mode, 20ms programmable fuze to detonate 500 meters after launch and arm 10 seconds post-launch, sprays fragments at 2,000 m/s, leaves a 65m lethal blast radius, generates 200 kPa of overpressure at 10 meters, creates a 15m crater, and has a 95% hard-target kill probability, plus incendiary secondary effects—clearly designed to handle fortified targets with precision and raw power.
Sources & References
- Reference 1ENen.wikipedia.orgVisit source
- Reference 2MISSILETHREATmissilethreat.csis.orgVisit source
- Reference 3MBDA-SYSTEMSmbda-systems.comVisit source
- Reference 4ARMY-TECHNOLOGYarmy-technology.comVisit source
- Reference 5GLOBALSECURITYglobalsecurity.orgVisit source
- Reference 6FASfas.orgVisit source
- Reference 7AIRFORCE-TECHNOLOGYairforce-technology.comVisit source
- Reference 8JANESjanes.comVisit source
- Reference 9NAVAL-TECHNOLOGYnaval-technology.comVisit source
- Reference 10RAFraf.mod.ukVisit source