MBDA To Perform The Mid-Life Refurbishment of Greece’s Storm Shadow / SCALP Missiles
On 11 May 2023, European missile and munitions manufacturer MBDA announced that it has signed a contract with the Greek government covering mid-life refurbishment (MLR) activities for Hellenic Air Force SCALP EG/STORM SHADOW Cruise Missiles. This MLR contract, signed by Admiral Aristeidis Alexopoulos, General Director of Defense Investments and Armaments at the Greek Ministry of National Defense, and Eric Béranger, CEO of MBDA, includes the supply of mission planning products, maintenance, and technical assistance to extend the operational superiority of SCALP missiles against future threats.
Regarding the contract, MBDA CEO Eric Béranger said: “The signing of this contract has a particular meaning for MBDA, coming 55 years after we signed our first-ever Exocet contract with Greece. Our commitment since then never faltered and we are very honored by this additional expression of trust from the Hellenic Air Forces towards MBDA for the mid-life refurbishment of these SCALP missiles. This is again reinforcing our commitment to continue to deliver key sovereign capabilities that provide the best solutions to meet the requirements of the Hellenic Armed Forces customer.”
SCALP missiles are currently utilized by the Hellenic Air Force (HAF) on Mirage 2000-5 and Rafale aircraft. In 2001, the Greek government signed a contract with MBDA to outfit the Hellenic Air Force’s Mirage 2000-5 Mk2 aircraft with SCALP EG/STORM SHADOW missiles. In 2003, Greece placed another order with the company for additional SCALP missiles. Other SCALP missiles were ordered as part of weapons packages for Greece’s 18 Rafales ordered in 2021 and an additional six Rafales ordered in 2022. MBDA also supplies Greece with Meteor beyond-visual-range air-to-air missiles, MICA air-to-air missiles, and AM39 Exocet anti-ship missiles for its Rafales, in addition to SCALP missiles.
SCALP is a cruise missile developed by Matra and British Aerospace since 1994 and later manufactured by MBDA. The weapon’s French name is SCALP (Sistème de Croisière Autonome à Longue Portée – Emploi Général, which translates as Long Range Autonomous Cruise Missile System – General Purpose). Storm Shadow is the name given to the missile both internationally and in British service. The weapon, which was based on MBDA Systems’ Apache anti-runway missile, was tested for the first time in December 2000. Storm Shadow / SCALP was employed in the Gulf, Iraq, and Libya by the Royal Air Force and the French Air Force.
SCALP missiles weigh 1,300 kilograms and have a 48-centimeter body diameter and a three-meter wingspan. SCALP missiles carry a 450-kilogram bomb royal ordnance augmented charge (BROACH) warhead and can be incorporated into Mirage 2000, Rafale, Eurofighter Typhoon, Saab Gripen, and F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) aircraft. Depending on the requirements, the missile can also carry a cluster-munitions warhead. The range of this fire-forget cruise missile, powered by a TR60-30 turbojet engine, is more than 250 kilometers, and it travels to its target at a low altitude at a speed below the speed of sound.
SCALP/Storm Shadow is operated by the UK, France, Italy, Egypt, Qatar and Saudi Arabia. Most recently the UK has provided an undisclosed number of Storm Shadow missiles to Ukraine.