SCALP-EG is the French-service member of the Storm Shadow/SCALP air-launched cruise-missile family, an MBDA deep-strike weapon built for pre-planned attacks on high-value fixed targets such as hardened facilities and key infrastructure. French aircraft used SCALP-EG in Libya, Iraq and the 2018 Syria strikes, Ukrainian Su-24 aircraft later carried it as a Western long-range precision-strike option, Indian Rafales were reported to have used SCALP during Operation Sindoor in the 2025 India-Pakistan Conflict, and the UK-France 2025 defence declaration tied new SCALP and Storm Shadow acquisition to production-line upgrades.
France announced SCALP cruise-missile deliveries to Ukraine in July 2023 for deep strikes against Russian military infrastructure on Ukrainian territory; SIPRI later listed uncertain French Storm Shadow/SCALP-EG deliveries to Ukraine in 2023-2024, and August 2023 reporting documented SCALP-EG in Ukrainian Su-24 service.
Role detailsFrench aircraft fired SCALP cruise missiles during Operation Chammal in December 2015, striking an Islamic State headquarters, training and logistics site near Al-Qaim in western Iraq.
French Rafale and Mirage aircraft launched nine SCALP missiles during the April 2018 coalition strikes against Syrian government chemical-weapons facilities, including Him Shinshar target sets west of Homs.
Role detailsFrench Rafale aircraft used SCALP-EG cruise missiles against Libyan regime targets during the 2011 air campaign, including Al-Jufra air base; RAND also identifies the UAE Black Shaheen export variant among the coalition weapons used in Libya.
Indian Rafale aircraft were reported to have used SCALP cruise missiles during Operation Sindoor strikes on targets in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir in May 2025; independent crisis analysis also identified SCALP-EG among India's cruise-missile use in the conflict.
SCALP-EG is a pre-planned standoff weapon for fixed, high-value targets. MBDA describes the family as a low-observable turbojet cruise missile using inertial, GPS, terrain-reference and terminal infrared image matching guidance, while CSIS records the penetrating warhead and long-range air-launched role.
| Feature | Reader context |
|---|---|
| Launch approach | Aircraft release the missile outside the immediate target area, allowing Rafale, Mirage 2000 and adapted Su-24 crews to attack defended fixed sites from standoff range. |
| Guidance stack | Inertial/GPS navigation, terrain referencing and terminal infrared image matching support a planned route and terminal aimpoint. |
| Target set | The penetrating warhead and deep-strike profile fit hardened facilities, command sites, air-base infrastructure and other fixed military targets documented in Libya, Iraq, Syria and Ukraine use. |
SCALP-EG sits in the Storm Shadow/SCALP family: the French air-launched designation is closely related to the UK Storm Shadow, while Black Shaheen is an export variant and MdCN/SCALP Naval is the naval cruise-missile branch.
| Variant | Configuration | Designation notes |
|---|---|---|
 | UK air-launched family member | CSIS treats Storm Shadow and SCALP EG as closely related air-launched members of the same missile family, with national integration differences. Sources: SCALP EG / Storm Shadow / SCALP Naval / Black Shaheen / APACHE AP |
| Black Shaheen | Export variant | CSIS identifies Black Shaheen as a Storm Shadow/SCALP family variant associated with export customers. Sources: SCALP EG / Storm Shadow / SCALP Naval / Black Shaheen / APACHE AP |
 | Naval cruise-missile branch | CSIS groups SCALP Naval with the broader SCALP/Storm Shadow family while distinguishing it from the air-launched SCALP EG weapon. Sources: SCALP EG / Storm Shadow / SCALP Naval / Black Shaheen / APACHE AP |
SCALP-EG is documented on French and export Rafale forces, French Mirage 2000 strike aircraft, and adapted Ukrainian Su-24 aircraft.
| Carrier | Carrier type | Carriage evidence |
|---|---|---|
 | Multirole fighter | MBDA and Dassault list SCALP among Rafale weapons, and French Rafales fired SCALP missiles in both the 2011 Libya campaign and the 2018 Syria strikes. Sources: MBDA to arm Hellenic Air Force's new Rafale fighter jets, Adapt and deliver, France Spent Over 1,000 Bombs and Missiles in the 7 Month Libyan Campaign, Department of Defense Syria Strike Briefing |
 | Strike aircraft | The U.S. Syria strike briefing records French Mirage aircraft launching SCALP missiles during the April 2018 coalition operation. |
 | Strike aircraft | The War Zone documented Ukrainian Su-24 aircraft carrying French SCALP-EG missiles after France's 2023 transfer decision. Sources: French SCALP-EG Cruise Missiles Officially In Use In Ukraine |
French Rafales used SCALP-EG during the 2011 Libya air campaign, including strikes on Al-Jufra air base.
Sources: France Spent Over 1,000 Bombs and Missiles in the 7 Month Libyan Campaign, Precision and Purpose: Airpower in the Libyan Civil War
French aircraft fired SCALP missiles against an Islamic State site near Al-Qaim during Operation Chammal.
Sources: Commission des affaires etrangeres, de la defense et des forces armees - 15 decembre 2015, Chammal : premiere utilisation des missiles de croisiere SCALP
French Rafale and Mirage aircraft launched SCALP missiles during the coalition strikes on Syrian chemical-weapons facilities.
Sources: Department of Defense Syria Strike Briefing, France turns to plan B when missile launch fails during Syria airstrikes
France announced SCALP deliveries to Ukraine for long-range strikes against Russian military infrastructure on Ukrainian territory.
Sources: Sommet de l'OTAN a Vilnius
Indian media and Stimson Center crisis analysis identified SCALP-EG among weapons reportedly used by India during Operation Sindoor.
Sources: Rafale jets hit Pak terror camps with Scalp missiles, Hammer bombs, Four Days in May: The India-Pakistan Crisis of 2025
The Lancaster House 2.0 defence declaration said the UK and France would acquire new SCALP and Storm Shadow missiles and upgrade production lines after Ukrainian use.
Sources: Lancaster House 2.0 Defence Declaration
