The conflict between Russia and Ukraine has reached a new level of danger with the debate over the Storm Shadow air-to-surface missiles. While Russia makes statements about the effectiveness of these missiles, British military experts say that its air defenses will be able to intercept and destroy these long-range missiles.
In the midst of this tension, the United Kingdom reveals details about how Storm Shadow was killed in Damascus, exposing the weaknesses of these Russian missiles.
Russia and its risky proposals
In the midst of the crisis, Russian politician Alexey Zhuravlev has proposed that air defense systems be moved away from Russia’s borders to the range of British missiles.
This proposal, while logical from the Russian perspective, poses serious risks. In addition, Russian MP Mikhail Shermet suggests “cutting off the supply route” in western Ukraine, a move that could further exacerbate the situation.
The Russian Counterattack and the Experience in Syria
Alexei Leonkov, a Russian military expert, points out that Russia has already shot down several Storm Shadow missiles in Syria, using BUK and TOR air defense systems instead of the more advanced S-400 or S-300.
The expert points out that these missiles follow a predetermined route and can be intercepted and tracked throughout their journey. This raises questions about Storm Shadow’s effectiveness and its ability to evade Russian defenses.
The integration of missiles in Ukraine
Although the Ukrainian MiG-29 and Su-25 fighter jets cannot carry the Storm Shadow missiles due to their weight, the Su-24 and Su-24 are suspected to have been equipped with them.
Although there is no official confirmation, a number of concrete actions have been observed in Poland indicating that Ukraine has received these missiles and integrated their programming into its fighter jets. This raises questions about Ukraine’s ability to use these missiles effectively.
Storm Shadow’s Weaknesses
Leonkov warns that Russian air defenses will face problems if the Ukrainians change the flight height of the Storm Shadow missiles. These missiles become nearly invisible to air defense system radars at low altitudes, making them difficult to intercept.
In addition, the presence of drones in certain regions indicates that routes to attack with these missiles are being tested. If the Ukrainians follow this route, they might succeed in their target due to the difficulty of detecting the missiles at low altitudes.
Despite the uncertainties and strategies at stake, experts in the Russian military believe that their air defenses will intercept and destroy the Storm Shadow.
