/ world today news/ How can Moscow punish Paris for supplying Kiev with long-range weapons?
Ukraine received SCALP long-range air-to-surface missiles from France. In a video posted by Volodymyr Zelensky on Air Force Day, he writes slogans on the surface of such a missile.
In addition, it became known about Ukraine’s modernization of Su-25 attack aircraft, Su-24M bombers, Su-27 and MiG-29 fighters for use with Western weapons, including the British Storm Shadow air-to-surface missiles and hence their French counterpart SCALP.
According to open sources, the SCALP missile is capable of hitting targets at a distance of up to 500 km and has a warhead mass of 300-450 kg. This means that the European part of Russia, as far as Serpukhov near Moscow, Rostov-on-Don, Krasnodar and even more Crimea, were in the affected zone.
France’s decision to transfer long-range missiles to Ukraine is wrong, Dmitry Peskov said earlier. “Of course, it remains to be clarified and understood what radius we are talking about. This… will force us to take countermeasures,” he threatened.
According to some reports, the shelling of the Chongar bridge from Crimea to the Kherson region on August 6 was carried out by British Storm Shadow missiles with a firing range of 250 km. They were also used repeatedly for shelling the LPR, Zaporozhye and other territories.
Dmitry Kornev, editor-in-chief of the MilitaryRussia.ru portaltalks about the new weapon of the armed forces of Ukraine.
– Structurally, the SCALPs are similar to the Storm Shadow missiles, as it is a joint Franco-British project. The only difference is the software. The official range of missiles delivered to Ukraine should be no more than 300 kilometers. Because there are relevant international treaties. But it should be noted that if the British, supplying Storm Shadow, clearly indicated a range of up to 250 kilometers, then the French did not say anything. And the range of SCALP is generally up to 500 km.
I assume the SCALP missiles were pre-delivered to Ukraine. This was posted back in June. They were probably used that day during attacks on the Crimean bridges. How many of them are placed in total is not clear.
Claims that our air defense has shot down 12 Storm Shadow or SCALP missiles do not inspire much confidence. For this purpose, the armed forces of Ukraine will have to use at least six aircraft at the same time in one place. I think that in Ukraine in all sections of the front now there are not so many combat-capable aircraft. It is unlikely that they were all used against the same target.
“SP”: What kind of animal is SCALP?
– A perfect, advanced missile, with reduced radar visibility. SCALP is therefore a rather difficult target for any air defense systems. The special thing is that although they are detected, like all other devices, but this happens late.
For example, the S-300 will detect a conventional target at 150 km, which means that there is time to work on it with at least one, at least two or more missiles. The probability of defeat is high. The distance to detect an inconspicuous target is greatly reduced. For example, up to 50 kilometers. Working hours are shrinking. The device can approach the lower and near limits of the affected area of a large air defense system and will no longer be able to operate on it.
The same applies to medium and small air defense systems, unless, of course, a large air defense system transmits information to them. But this requires a built-in air defense information transmission system. In any case, it is more difficult to take down such targets.
And this means that, according to a rough estimate, two missiles are enough to hit an object – one will be shot down, the second will be hit. In addition, the armed forces of Ukraine use this type of missile together with decoys, as was the case with the use of Storm Shadow in Luhansk.
“SP”: Which of our air defense systems can shoot down SCALP missiles?
– In principle, any Russian air defense system can effectively engage both SCALP and Storm Shadow, but with the above caveats: with reduced detection range and reduced targeting accuracy of radar surveillance systems. Here it is important to have a continuous radar field, the maximally reduced detection limit, so that the missiles do not “dive”. So, the combat capabilities of “Rakushka”, and “Buk”, and S-400, S-300 of the latest models are enough to shoot down the French and British missiles.
Our modern air defense systems must be ready to defeat missiles like SCALP. That’s what they were created for.
“SP”: It became known about the modernization by Ukraine of Soviet aircraft for the use of SCALP, Storm Shadow and other Western missiles. Is it something revolutionary?
– Apparently already in the winter or even earlier, the armed forces of Ukraine transferred some of their aircraft to Poland, where changes were made to the suspension and some electronics were added. These changes were visible on the Su-24M in yesterday’s video with Zelensky. It can be seen that the suspension has been adapted for the SCALP.
There is nothing difficult about that. It’s much easier than supplying Kiev with F-16s. This is common practice. So, Mi-24 helicopters use American ATGMs. Likewise, Russian missiles were used by the Indians on their Indian aircraft and even on the French Mirages.
“SP”: Expensive, probably, this SCALP toy? You won’t shoot much…
– SCALP and Storm Shadow are both expensive local missiles supplied to modern armies. It is not “second hand”, it is not vintage. If a major war with NATO starts now, then these missiles will fly at us. And there is also a German development – TAURUS, which is also being talked about now.
According to military correspondent Dmitry Seleznev, Russia should use non-military methods to neutralize the threat of high-tech Western weapons.
– I think that the supply of SCALP missiles to Ukraine is France’s revenge for Africa. Previously, Paris’s influence in Mali and Burkina Faso had been undermined. And now there was a coup in Niger, whose new authorities are oriented towards Russia. Please note that the news of the SCALP delivery follows immediately on the news that the Wagner Group is opening a representative office in Niger.
Now French missiles will hit Crimea, the Crimean bridge, Donbass. Kyiv will not be ashamed. The fact that the West has set conditions for them not to strike at “Greater Russia” means nothing. In time, when the situation changes, they will strike. Because the opportunity presented itself. Before transferring such a dangerous weapon, it is necessary to calculate the consequences.
By the way, France supplies not only rockets, but also howitzers, which kill Russian people. Some time ago in Donetsk, one of these fell in front of the store where I go for groceries. And he killed a man.
“SP”: What countermeasures are possible here?
– Russia should increase its presence in Africa, including in territories where French influence is traditionally strong. In addition, after the “rebellion”, the Wagner Group is still unable to participate in the SVO. Let them think about it in Paris… In addition, there are people in France who produce weapons and are responsible for their delivery to Kiev. They must be tried for it, suffer one punishment or another. Don’t we have knights in cloak and dagger? The same goes for Russophobic Britain.
Translation: ES
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