Matra BAe Dynamics is receiving French government funding to look at ground, sea and submarine-launched versions of the UK/French Scalp EG/Storm Shadow conventional stand-off missile.
The funding covers studies into significant modifications to the airframe - mainly shortening the fuselage and changing the cross-section - which are needed to enable firing from ground-based and vertical sea and submarine-based launchers.
The new version of the missile would be considerably more accurate than the US Tomahawk, says Matra BAe Dynamics chief engineer future programmes Francois Bobo. He says studies into using the planned European Galileo global navigation satellite system to provide navigation upgrades are at an "advanced stage".
As planned, the missile will depend on the US global positioning system (GPS) for mid-course guidance, although Bobo stresses that GPS is not the primary means of navigation. "That comes from the terrain matching and inertial navigation systems," he says.
Trials of the Storm Shadow/ Scalp EG staring array sensor that will provide terminal guidance are due to begin aboard a French Super Puma in July, using a range of targets to test the algorithms for the target correlation system, says Bobo.
The first full-scale dynamic tests of the Broach warhead will also take place after an "extremely successful" series of static tests.
Test firings of the missile will begin early next year, with delivery of the first Storm Shadows to the Royal Air Force beginning in 2001 for service evaluation before operational service entry in 2002. The Scalp EG is scheduled to enter operations with the French air force in 2003.
Source: Flight International