According to Business Insider, Russian forces have adapted to weapons that Ukraine is bringing to the battlefield that are believed to be “game-changing,” such as the US-supplied High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS).
However, military experts say the Storm Shadow missiles, which Britain pledged to send to Ukraine earlier this month, could cause new logistical problems for Russia, and significantly enhance Kyiv's long-range strike capabilities, Breaking Defense reported.
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The Power of Storm Shadow
The Storm Shadow, an air-launched cruise missile developed in collaboration with France, has seen combat in various conflicts across the Middle East. When launched from aircraft, the missile flies at low altitudes and avoids detection, according to Business Insider.
Storm Shadow cruise missiles mounted under the fuselage of a Tornado GR4 aircraft
Royal Air Force
With a range of more than 155 miles (250 km), Storm Shadow has three times the range of HIMARS, and only 30 miles less than the US-made Army Combat Rocket System (ATACMS). It can also reach Russian-controlled areas in Ukraine, according to Ukrinform news agency.
Mr. George Barros, a Russia analyst at the Institute for the Study of War (ISW, USA), commented that this will have a great impact on the operations of Russian forces on the battlefield.
Meanwhile, according to Jack Watling, a senior researcher on land warfare at the Royal United Services Institute (UK), the introduction of Storm Shadow into the battlefield will solve the "serious tactical challenges" that Ukraine is currently facing. According to this expert, this missile warhead can penetrate fortified targets, while its stealth capabilities will make it difficult to detect and intercept.
Russia claims to have shot down a Storm Shadow long-range cruise missile for the first time. UK aids Ukraine
“These missiles will help Ukraine hit command and control posts, logistics facilities, where Russian soldiers are concentrated,” US Rear Admiral Tim Woods told Breaking Defense in an interview on May 15.
Accordingly, Mr. Watling believes that Ukraine's deployment of British missiles will force Russia to move its logistics centers further away from the front line, as well as reorganize its air defense systems. This expert predicts that Storm Shadow will also force Russia to change its offensive tactics to defensive ones to preserve its forces and equipment, against potential counterattacks by Ukraine.
The Storm Shadow missile on display at the Farnborough Airshow in 2018.
In addition, Ukraine can also use Storm Shadow missiles to distract Russia's priorities. Specifically, it will make Moscow's senior commanders feel more "insecure" because they are within Kyiv's firing range.
Watling noted that making Russian commanders “fear for their personal safety” is an effective way to undermine concentration and decision-making on the battlefield. According to him, if the Storm Shadow’s capabilities are combined with psychological attacks, this weapon could give Ukraine a huge advantage. “The mere existence of the Storm Shadow in Ukraine’s arsenal could be as important as its deployment,” he said.
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Will America follow Britain?
The delivery of Storm Shadow missiles to Ukraine comes at a time when Kyiv is preparing for a highly anticipated counteroffensive in the east and south, raising questions about whether the Biden administration will provide ATACMS to Ukraine, according to Business Insider.
If the US does send ATACMS, this would not be the first time the US has followed its European allies in providing aid to Ukraine. Earlier this year, the UK confirmed it would provide Ukraine with Challenger main battle tanks, paving the way for Germany and the US to send Leopard and M1 Abrams tanks to Kyiv.
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