The French Air Force and the SCALP Cruise Missile: Strikes Daesh Again

09/30/2016

2016-09-30 In late 2015, the French Rafales used the Storm Shadow/SCALP for the first time against the Daesh.

According to a statement from the French Ministry of Defense, the air strike involved ten aircraft from their deployment airfields in the United Arab Emirates and Jordan.

The raid targeted Daesh headquarters, training center and a logistics deposit, including some hardened buildings, in the region of al-Qaim, near the border separating Iraq from Syria.

Scalp EG (Système de Croisière Autonome à Longue Portée – Emploi Général, General Purpose Long Range Standoff Cruise Missile) is the French designation for the MBDA Storm Shadow precision strike missile.

It is a conventional, stealthy, 1.300 kg standoff weapon designed for use against very high value targets in all-weather conditions from a distance of about 250 km.

And according to an article published on September 20, 2016, the French Air Force used this very precise weapon against Daesh sites in support of the coalition in the Mosul area.

The target was identified as a training center for terrorists and an explosives factory.

The planes were identified as flying from a base in Jordan.

With the Charles de Gaulle in the area, the Rafales can strike as well from the carrier.

According to an AFP story published on September 20, 2016, this capability was highlighted.

French fighter jets took off from the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle on Friday for an operation against the ISIL Takfiri group in its Iraqi stronghold of Mosul, an officer said.

Eight jets took off from the carrier in the eastern Mediterranean, an AFP photographer on the flight deck reported.

The Charles de Gaulle is on its third mission since February 2015 in support of the US-led coalition which is allegedly fighting ISIL in Iraq and Syria.

 https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/french-fighter-jets-mission-isil-mosul/

Below is a data sheet on the Storm Shadow/SCALP provided by MBDA on their website:

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