An upgraded Storm Shadow SPEAR Cap 4 long-range deep-strike weapon engages a target during operational evaluation trials at the US Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake, California, in mid-2021. (UK Ministry of Defence)

MBDA is expected to finalise the Selective Precision Effects At Range Capability 4 (SPEAR Cap 4) regeneration of the UK's Storm Shadow air-launched, conventionally armed, deep-strike weapon inventory later in 2022.

SPEAR Cap 4 is the UK Ministry of Defence (UK MoD)-sanctioned Mid-Life Refurbishment (MLR) project for the MBDA-developed Storm Shadow missile. Storm Shadow is the UK designator for the weapon system; in French service, the missile is designated SCALP EG (Système de Croisière Autonome à Longue Portée – Emploi Général).

The UK Defence Equipment Plan 2021, released on 21 January 2022, confirmed that SPEAR Cap 4 was formally accepted into UK Royal Air Force (RAF) service in January. “Storm Shadow MLR/SPEAR Cap 4 entered into service in early 2022, following highly successful denied-environment trials during mid-2021,” an MBDA spokesperson told Janes . “The upgrade of the stockpile has been running for several years now and final upgrades are expected to complete in 2022,” the spokesperson added.

An upgraded Storm Shadow SPEAR Cap 4 long-range deep-strike weapon engages a target during operational evaluation trials at the US Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake, California, in mid-2021. (UK Ministry of Defence)

MBDA is expected to finalise the Selective Precision Effects At Range Capability 4 (SPEAR Cap 4) regeneration of the UK's Storm Shadow air-launched, conventionally armed, deep-strike weapon inventory later in 2022.

SPEAR Cap 4 is the UK Ministry of Defence (UK MoD)-sanctioned Mid-Life Refurbishment (MLR) project for the MBDA-developed Storm Shadow missile. Storm Shadow is the UK designator for the weapon system; in French service, the missile is designated SCALP EG (Système de Croisière Autonome à Longue Portée – Emploi Général).

The UK Defence Equipment Plan 2021, released on 21 January 2022, confirmed that SPEAR Cap 4 was formally accepted into UK Royal Air Force (RAF) service in January. “Storm Shadow MLR/SPEAR Cap 4 entered into service in early 2022, following highly successful denied-environment trials during mid-2021,” an MBDA spokesperson told Janes . “The upgrade of the stockpile has been running for several years now and final upgrades are expected to complete in 2022,” the spokesperson added.

An upgraded Storm Shadow SPEAR Cap 4 long-range deep-strike weapon engages a target during operational evaluation trials at the US Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake, California, in mid-2021. (UK Ministry of Defence)

MBDA is expected to finalise the Selective Precision Effects At Range Capability 4 (SPEAR Cap 4) regeneration of the UK's Storm Shadow air-launched, conventionally armed, deep-strike weapon inventory later in 2022.

SPEAR Cap 4 is the UK Ministry of Defence (UK MoD)-sanctioned Mid-Life Refurbishment (MLR) project for the MBDA-developed Storm Shadow missile. Storm Shadow is the UK designator for the weapon system; in French service, the missile is designated SCALP EG (Système de Croisière Autonome à Longue Portée – Emploi Général).

The UK Defence Equipment Plan 2021, released on 21 January 2022, confirmed that SPEAR Cap 4 was formally accepted into UK Royal Air Force (RAF) service in January. “Storm Shadow MLR/SPEAR Cap 4 entered into service in early 2022, following highly successful denied-environment trials during mid-2021,” an MBDA spokesperson told Janes . “The upgrade of the stockpile has been running for several years now and final upgrades are expected to complete in 2022,” the spokesperson added.

An upgraded Storm Shadow SPEAR Cap 4 long-range deep-strike weapon engages a target during operational evaluation trials at the US Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake, California, in mid-2021. (UK Ministry of Defence)

MBDA is expected to finalise the Selective Precision Effects At Range Capability 4 (SPEAR Cap 4) regeneration of the UK's Storm Shadow air-launched, conventionally armed, deep-strike weapon inventory later in 2022.

SPEAR Cap 4 is the UK Ministry of Defence (UK MoD)-sanctioned Mid-Life Refurbishment (MLR) project for the MBDA-developed Storm Shadow missile. Storm Shadow is the UK designator for the weapon system; in French service, the missile is designated SCALP EG (Système de Croisière Autonome à Longue Portée – Emploi Général).

The UK Defence Equipment Plan 2021, released on 21 January 2022, confirmed that SPEAR Cap 4 was formally accepted into UK Royal Air Force (RAF) service in January. “Storm Shadow MLR/SPEAR Cap 4 entered into service in early 2022, following highly successful denied-environment trials during mid-2021,” an MBDA spokesperson told Janes . “The upgrade of the stockpile has been running for several years now and final upgrades are expected to complete in 2022,” the spokesperson added.

An upgraded Storm Shadow SPEAR Cap 4 long-range deep-strike weapon engages a target during operational evaluation trials at the US Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake, California, in mid-2021. (UK Ministry of Defence)

MBDA is expected to finalise the Selective Precision Effects At Range Capability 4 (SPEAR Cap 4) regeneration of the UK's Storm Shadow air-launched, conventionally armed, deep-strike weapon inventory later in 2022.

SPEAR Cap 4 is the UK Ministry of Defence (UK MoD)-sanctioned Mid-Life Refurbishment (MLR) project for the MBDA-developed Storm Shadow missile. Storm Shadow is the UK designator for the weapon system; in French service, the missile is designated SCALP EG (Système de Croisière Autonome à Longue Portée – Emploi Général).

The UK Defence Equipment Plan 2021, released on 21 January 2022, confirmed that SPEAR Cap 4 was formally accepted into UK Royal Air Force (RAF) service in January. “Storm Shadow MLR/SPEAR Cap 4 entered into service in early 2022, following highly successful denied-environment trials during mid-2021,” an MBDA spokesperson told Janes . “The upgrade of the stockpile has been running for several years now and final upgrades are expected to complete in 2022,” the spokesperson added.

An upgraded Storm Shadow SPEAR Cap 4 long-range deep-strike weapon engages a target during operational evaluation trials at the US Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake, California, in mid-2021. (UK Ministry of Defence)

MBDA is expected to finalise the Selective Precision Effects At Range Capability 4 (SPEAR Cap 4) regeneration of the UK's Storm Shadow air-launched, conventionally armed, deep-strike weapon inventory later in 2022.

SPEAR Cap 4 is the UK Ministry of Defence (UK MoD)-sanctioned Mid-Life Refurbishment (MLR) project for the MBDA-developed Storm Shadow missile. Storm Shadow is the UK designator for the weapon system; in French service, the missile is designated SCALP EG (Système de Croisière Autonome à Longue Portée – Emploi Général).

The UK Defence Equipment Plan 2021, released on 21 January 2022, confirmed that SPEAR Cap 4 was formally accepted into UK Royal Air Force (RAF) service in January. “Storm Shadow MLR/SPEAR Cap 4 entered into service in early 2022, following highly successful denied-environment trials during mid-2021,” an MBDA spokesperson told Janes . “The upgrade of the stockpile has been running for several years now and final upgrades are expected to complete in 2022,” the spokesperson added.