Storm Shadow is the UK name for the Franco-British Storm Shadow/SCALP air-launched cruise missile, a low-observable deep-strike weapon built by MBDA for precision attacks on hardened or high-value fixed targets. RAF Tornado GR4s used Storm Shadow from the Iraq War through Libya and the April 2018 U.S., UK, and French strikes in the 2011 Syrian Civil War, UK-supplied missiles later gave Ukraine a longer-range conventional strike option from adapted Su-24 aircraft, UK parliamentary records document Saudi use in Yemen, and the UK-France 2025 defence declaration tied new SCALP and Storm Shadow acquisition to production-line upgrades.
The UK confirmed donating Storm Shadow missiles to Ukraine in May 2023; Ben Wallace later confirmed Ukrainian forces had used UK-supplied Storm Shadow missiles against Russian targets, and Janes reported Ukrainian Su-24 aircraft carrying them.
Role detailsRAF 617 Squadron records Tornado GR4 aircraft flying the first operational Storm Shadow mission from Kuwait against Iraqi targets on 21 March 2003 during Operation Telic.
Role detailsUK Ministry of Defence reporting said RAF Tornado GR4 aircraft launched Storm Shadow missiles during Operation Ellamy strikes against Libyan regime military facilities in 2011.
Used by Royal Air Force Tornado and Typhoon aircraft in Iraq during Operation Shader, including Storm Shadow strikes on Daesh bunker and cave targets during the coalition campaign against the Islamic State.
Fired by Royal Air Force Tornado GR4 aircraft during the April 2018 coalition strikes against Syrian government chemical-weapons facilities, with eight Storm Shadow missiles launched at the Him Sinshar storage site.
Role detailsUsed by the Royal Saudi Air Force in the Yemen campaign from UK-supplied aircraft; a UK parliamentary answer states that Saudi forces used Storm Shadow munitions in Yemen.
Role detailsThe Storm Shadow/SCALP family uses different service and launch-platform designations for related MBDA deep-strike missiles. Storm Shadow is the UK air-launched designation, SCALP-EG is the French air-launched designation, Black Shaheen is identified by CSIS as an export variant, and MdCN/SCALP Naval is the ship- and submarine-launched branch.
| Designation | Configuration | Catalog relationship |
|---|---|---|
| Storm Shadow | UK air-launched cruise missile for aircraft such as Tornado GR4 and Typhoon | Current record |
 | French air-launched family member carried by aircraft including Rafale and Mirage 2000 | Linked same-family record |
| Black Shaheen | Export variant identified within the Storm Shadow/SCALP family | Unlinked variant row |
 | Naval land-attack cruise missile branch for surface ships and submarines | Linked family branch |
Sources: STORM SHADOW / SCALP; SCALP EG / Storm Shadow / SCALP Naval / Black Shaheen / APACHE AP.
Storm Shadow and SCALP-EG are the UK and French air-launched members of the same MBDA deep-strike missile family; CSIS also groups Black Shaheen and SCALP Naval/MdCN with the wider family while distinguishing their export or naval roles.
| Variant | Configuration | Designation notes |
|---|---|---|
| French air-launched family member | CSIS treats Storm Shadow and SCALP EG as closely related air-launched weapons in the same missile family, with national-service designation 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 Storm Shadow/SCALP family while distinguishing it from the air-launched Storm Shadow and SCALP-EG missiles. Sources: SCALP EG / Storm Shadow / SCALP Naval / Black Shaheen / APACHE AP |
Storm Shadow is integrated on several strike aircraft, with MBDA and RAF reporting documenting both the intended launch platforms and the aircraft that used it operationally.
| Launcher | Launcher type | Launch evidence |
|---|---|---|
 | Strike aircraft | RAF squadron history records the first operational Storm Shadow mission from Tornado GR4 on 21 March 2003. |
 | Multirole fighter | MBDA lists Typhoon among the launch aircraft for Storm Shadow/SCALP, and RAF reporting says the type made its first operational Storm Shadow use in April 2021. Sources: STORM SHADOW / SCALP, Typhoon first operational Storm Shadow use |
 | Multirole fighter | MBDA lists Rafale among the launch aircraft for Storm Shadow/SCALP. Sources: STORM SHADOW / SCALP |
 | Multirole fighter | MBDA lists Mirage 2000 among the launch aircraft for Storm Shadow/SCALP. Sources: STORM SHADOW / SCALP |
 | Strike aircraft | Janes reported Ukraine employing Su-24 aircraft to carry Storm Shadow, reflecting the adapted launch platform used in the 2014 Russia-Ukraine War. Sources: Ukraine Conflict: Ukraine Employing Su-24 to Carry Storm Shadow, Defence Minister Reveals |
Hansard records the February 1997 Storm Shadow contract and the then-planned 2001 in-service date.
Sources: Storm Shadow development contract and service planning
RAF squadron history records 617 Squadron flying the first operational Storm Shadow mission from Tornado GR4 during the Iraq campaign.
Sources: 617 Squadron first Storm Shadow mission
UK Ministry of Defence reporting said RAF Tornado GR4 aircraft launched Storm Shadow missiles against Libyan regime military facilities during Operation Ellamy.
Sources: RAF Conducts Precision Strikes over Libya
The RAF said Typhoon FGR4 aircraft conducted the first operational Storm Shadow use from the type during Operation Shader in Iraq.
Sources: Typhoon first operational Storm Shadow use
The UK confirmed it had donated Storm Shadow missiles to Ukraine.
Sources: Defence Secretary Oral Statement on War in Ukraine
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
