UK Delivers Shadow Missiles to Ukraine for Counter-Offensive

This article was last updated on May 11, 2023

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The United Kingdom has supplied Ukraine with long-range missiles for possible counter-offensive against Russian troops.

The United Kingdom has become the first country to supply Ukraine with long-range cruise missiles. The delivery of the Storm Shadow type of missile, developed jointly by the UK and France and made by the MBDA Missile Systems company, allows Ukraine’s military to reach Russian-occupied areas in eastern Ukraine and Crimea. The UK has gone further than the US in terms of arming Ukraine’s defense forces, which may play a pivotal role in Kyiv’s expected counter-offensive.

Benefits of the Storm Shadow Missile

The Storm Shadow missile launcher can be fitted onto various fighter planes, including the Eurofighter Typhoon, which Ukraine has leased from the UK, and Dassault Rafale. The missile system’s range of over 250 kilometers means that targets inside separatist-held eastern Ukraine and Russian-annexed Crimea are within reach. The missile reportedly uses GPS and inertial navigation to navigate and carries a high-explosive warhead weighing up to 450 kilos. The missile follows a low-level, terrain-following flight trajectory to evade radar detection and interception, making it highly capable of destroying heavily fortified targets.

Political Implications

The delivery of the missiles by the UK potentially escalates the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia, as the missile’s firepower exceeds Ukraine’s current long-range missile capabilities. The move highlights the importance of the UK as an ally to Ukraine, which had lobbied several Western nations for powerful weaponry amid the worsening conflict in the Donbas region. However, the delivery may escalate the situation with Russia, which has accused the UK of “fanning the flames of war” and warned of an “adequate” response if the missiles are used against Russian territory.

US Arms Deliveries

Previously, the US had delivered only Javelin anti-tank missiles to Ukraine, which have a range of about 80 kilometers. The US announced in February that it plans to send GLSDB missiles with a range of 150 kilometers to Ukraine. The UK’s decision to supply the Storm Shadow missiles indicates a departure from the US stance on supplying more lethal weaponry to Ukraine.

UK’s Previous Arms Deliveries

The UK’s decision to supply Ukraine with long-range missiles is not the first instance of Britain going beyond the US in arms deliveries to Ukraine. In November 2019, the UK announced that it would send “some of the most lethal and innovative” British Army equipment to “combat Russian aggression,” including the Ajax armored vehicle and the Challenger 2 tank.

Assurances from Ukraine

Ukraine has reportedly assured the UK that the missiles will not be used for targets inside Russia, although the delivery of such powerful missiles raises concerns about a potential escalation of the ongoing conflict.