The Russians created analogues of the SCALP-EG cruise missiles and used them en masse against Ukraine

A massive strike of no less than 16 Kh-69 cruise missiles, exactly the same as MBDA’s SCALP-EG/Storm Shadow missiles used for the Greek Rafale F.3R and Mirage 2000-5 Mk2 aircraft, was carried out on February 17 by the Russian Air Force on targets in Ukraine, surprising the Ukrainian air defense.

The first test launch, according to reports from Moscow, took place on February 7. The missile has been in development since 2020, but its creation was delayed because the Russian Tactical Missiles Corporation, which developed it, was stuck with the TERCOM system – a terrain tracking system, which in the Russian case had one feature: snowfalls on Russian territory changed the flight altitude .

It is assumed that, using French developments from the SCALP-EG missiles fired from the Ukrainian Su-24 and the British Storm Shadow, the Russians were able to bring the X-69 control system to fruition.

Σύμφωνα με ουκρανικές πηγές, οι ρωσικές αεροδιαστημικές δυνάμεις έπληξαν σήμερα τους στόχους στην Ουκρανία για πρώτη φορά με τους πιο πρόσφατους πυραύλους κρουζ N-69 με βεληνεκές μάχης έως και 290 km.

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— laralara_Z (@loraavra) February 18, 2024

The missile, which is now known as the Kh-69, was originally under a different name – the Kh-59MK2. The prototype of the rocket was first presented in 2009. It differed from its predecessor X-59MK in its guidance system, where the active radar homing system was replaced by an inertial navigation system in combination with GPS/GLONASS. However, in 2015, the missile was completely redesigned, leaving only the guidance system unchanged.

The missile received a box-shaped body of trapezoidal cross-section, adapted for placement in the weapons bay of the Su-57. The upper body has a pair of retractable wings with four fins at the rear, which also unfold during flight. The turbojet engine became internal.

Kh-69 missiles are designed to hit targets with already known coordinates. It can cover a distance of up to 300 kilometers. This missile carries a warhead weighing 310 kilograms with a total missile mass of 710 kilograms. Flight speed is about 700-1000 kilometers per hour.

The X-69 was probably created specifically for the Russian Su-57 fighter, however, according to the manufacturer, they can also be equipped with the MiG-29K, MiG-35, Su-30MK, Su-34 and Su-35. For final guidance, the missile uses a combination of inertial and satellite navigation, as well as a radar seeker.

Recently, the Ukrainian Telegram channel “Colonel GS” published a photograph of a fragment of a supposed X-69 missile shot down during a massive missile attack on February 7.

The Russians have always shown interest in the Greek version of the SCALP-EG missile, writes a popular Greek publication ProNewswhich has a range of about 500 km (without an official announcement about it), and it seems they succeeded, since the final version of the missile has a range of about 450 km, instead of the officially announced 290. It is the Greek versions of the SCALP-EG missile that have the officially declared range is 250 km, while in reality it is almost twice as much.

The weapon has created many problems for Russian air defense, since it is used in combination with decoys that hide the true flight path, and also has stealth functions.

The British justified their failure by saying that “The missiles supplied to Ukraine and used on the Su-24 after modification did not undergo this work and were considered largely “obsolete” in terms of expected service life. Therefore, technical failures in their use and falling to the ground at a certain stage of the flight to the target are quite acquitted“!

“It turns out that it was the Greek SCALP-EGs that were delivered to Ukraine”the publication concludes. “How many chances were there that the Greek and British missiles would have expired at the same time? None.”states the author.

Especially considering the statement that “Storm Shadows, which have passed SPEAR 4 (i.e. upgrade level), officially entered service in January 2022, following successful environmental denial testing in mid-2021.”

And what? Did some of the Greek SCALP-EG missiles, withdrawn from service due to expiration, end up in Ukraine, and the French promised to replace them with new ones?

Look at the similarities with Greek missiles and draw your own conclusions…

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