Ukraine has been asking for long-range missiles for months, but support from Britain and other allies such as the United States was previously limited to short-range weapons.
Dubbed “Storm Shadow”, the British missiles are just short of Kyiv’s claimed 185-mile range for the ATACMS missile system.
What did the British statement say about supplying these missiles to Kyiv?
British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace announced his country’s donation of modern long-range “Storm Shadow” missiles to Kyiv. Wallace stressed that granting these weapons systems gives Ukraine the best chance to defend itself against Russia’s continued brutality. The British official said Russia should realize that its actions alone led to the supply of such systems to Ukraine.
What are the capabilities of the “Storm Shadow” missiles?
Long range and great stealth capabilities. Jointly developed by the UK and France. It is launched from the air with a range of over 250 km. It has the range to strike deep into Russian-controlled territory in eastern Ukraine. It includes a special navigation system, GPS and terrain reference navigation, for better path control, and precise strikes thanks to an infrared reader. The British missile is used to strike high-value fixed targets, such as airbases, radar installations, military communication centers and logistics ports, and it can also be used in all weather conditions day and night. long and low range, with its high speed making it a difficult hidden missile to monitor and shoot down, according to Bloomberg. The missile, whose development began in 1996, and whose first batch was launched in 2000 and entered service in 2002, uses the same guidance techniques as those of the Tomahawk Block 3 missile, and is superior to it with a thermal imaging camera that works in the event that the radar seeker fails to accurately identify the target. Weight: 1.3 tons. Length: 5.1 meters. Warhead: half a ton. Range: 560 kilometers. Lowest height: 30 meters Speed: 1,000 kilometers per hour. Propulsion system: 5.4 kN TRI 60-30 turbojet engine.
How did Russia react to the British decision?
The Russian response came from the words of Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov when he said: – Russia takes a very negative position regarding the supply of long-range missiles to Kiev. – This will require a response from our army, which will take the appropriate military decisions.
As for the deputy of the Russian State Duma, Mikhail Sheremetev, he said that in case British long-range cruise missiles “Storm Shadow” are sent to Kiev, a massive missile attack should be launched on the borders western parts of Ukraine.
Sheremet added: “If Ukraine uses these missiles, I believe that massive missile strikes should be carried out using tactical weapons. It is time to cut off any possibility of transferring weapons of mass destruction from Poland. to Ukrainian territory.”
Moreover, State Duma deputy Dmitry Belyk confirmed that these British long-range missiles would not be the “miracle weapon” for Ukraine, and Russia had something to answer that.
“From now on, the Russian military will strengthen its defense wall and, of course, prepare longer-range response capabilities,” Belek stressed.
“We will show the world that there is no typical weapon against us, including the one the West has. There is no doubt that we will find something to respond to,” Belik said as quoted by Novosti agency.
According to military experts, the qualitative missiles will give Ukrainian forces a long-range offensive capability, with a timing that precedes the expected counterattack against Russian forces.
According to US military expert Michael Alex, these missiles will increase the offensive capabilities of Ukrainian forces, ahead of the long-awaited counterattack in eastern Ukraine and around the city of Yakhmut, and could change the course of the war Ukrainian.
In an interview with ‘Sky News Arabia’, Alex said: “This missile is a real game-changer and gives the Ukrainian military the necessary capabilities it has been missing and demanded by the West since the start of the conflict. missile may also represent a turning point and major turning point in the war after Ukrainian forces remained on the defensive. ” during 6 months.
Alex concluded his speech by stating, “Moscow will certainly retaliate against this measure and it is expected that these supplies will be bombed. In any case, despite these supplies, the Ukrainian army lags behind its Russian counterpart in all respects despite Western help. .”
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