Editing Storm Shadow (section)

===Combat use===
[[File:Tornado Storm Shadow.jpg|thumb|upright=1.3|left|A RAF [[Tornado GR4]] carrying two Storm Shadow missiles under its fuselage takes off at [[RAF Akrotiri]] in [[Cyprus]] on an [[Operation Shader]] mission, January 2019]]
RAF Tornados used Storm Shadow missiles operationally for the first time during the [[2003 invasion of Iraq]].<ref>{{cite news |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->  |date=8 March 2019 |title=ANALYSIS: How RAF's Tornados made storming contribution |work=Flight International |quote=By then upgraded to the GR4 standard, the UK's ground-attack aircraft played a part in the opening salvoes of the second conflict with Saddam Hussein's forces in Iraq. This was a spectacular debut for its Storm Shadow weapons, which allowed pinpoint strikes to be conducted against key infrastructure targets from a launch distance of more than 135nm (250km).}}</ref>  Although they were yet to officially enter service, "an accelerated testing schedule" saw them employed by the RAF's [[No. 617 Squadron RAF|617 Squadron]] in the conflict.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.raf.mod.uk/our-organisation/squadrons/617-squadron/ |title=617 Squadron |website=Raf.mod.uk |publisher=Royal Air Force |access-date=18 July 2020 |quote=2003 – Flew the RAF's first operational mission using Storm Shadow.}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Almond|first1=Peter |last2=Carr-Brown|first2=Jonathon |date=30 March 2003|title=Dambusters test-fire new missile |work=Sunday Times |location=London |quote=[Wing Commander Robertson] set about completing his mission – firing Britain's first air-launched cruise missile, the Storm Shadow.}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Hoyle |first1=Craig |date=6 July 2004 |title= Flying colours; Last year's Iraq conflict was a solid test for the UK RAF after a decade that has brought it closer to industry. Its highest ranking officer discusses its performance|work=Flight International }}</ref>

During the [[2011 military intervention in Libya]], the Storm Shadow/SCALP-EG was fired at pro-Gaddafi targets by [[French Air Force]] Rafales<ref>{{cite web |date=25 March 2011 |title=Rafale destroys Libyan jet, as France steps up action |url=http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/rafale-destroys-libyan-jet-as-france-steps-up-action-354776 |access-date=15 September 2012 |website=[[Flightglobal.com]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/blogs/defense/index.jsp?plckController=Blog&plckBlogPage=BlogViewPost&newspaperUserId=27ec4a53-dcc8-42d0-bd3a-01329aef79a7&plckPostId=Blog%3A27ec4a53-dcc8-42d0-bd3a-01329aef79a7Post%3A11aa5346-3d2b-4c52-9f09-4cf4e8bfa430&plckScript=blogScript&plckElementId=blogDest |title=Libya: France May Shift Rafales from Rafaletown to Sigonella |website=Aviationweek.com |access-date=15 September 2012 |archive-date=17 April 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120417224731/http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/blogs/defense/index.jsp?plckController=Blog&plckBlogPage=BlogViewPost&newspaperUserId=27ec4a53-dcc8-42d0-bd3a-01329aef79a7&plckPostId=Blog%3a27ec4a53-dcc8-42d0-bd3a-01329aef79a7Post%3a11aa5346-3d2b-4c52-9f09-4cf4e8bfa430&plckScript=blogScript&plckElementId=blogDest |url-status=dead }}</ref> and [[Italian Air Force]] and [[Royal Air Force]]<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/DefenceNews/MilitaryOperations/UpdatedBritishArmedForcesLaunchStrikeAgainstLibyanAirDefenceSystems.htm | title=British Armed Forces launch strike against Libyan air defence systems | publisher=Ministry of Defence | date=20 March 2011 | access-date=20 March 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/blogs/defense/index.jsp?plckController=Blog&plckBlogPage=BlogViewPost&newspaperUserId=27ec4a53-dcc8-42d0-bd3a-01329aef79a7&plckPostId=Blog%3A27ec4a53-dcc8-42d0-bd3a-01329aef79a7Post%3Ac9874eff-f7a9-4a14-8098-746a7449cfaf&plckScript=blogScript&plckElementId=blogDest |title=U.K. Libya Strikes Include Storm Shadows |publisher=Aviation week |date=20 March 2011 |access-date=22 March 2011 }}{{Dead link|date=February 2022 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> Tornados.  Targets included the [[Al Jufra Air Base]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.marianne2.fr/blogsecretdefense/Libye-premier-tir-operationnel-d-un-missile-de-croisiere-Scalp-par-la-France_a189.html |title=Libye : premier tir opérationnel d'un missile de croisière Scalp par la France |website=Marianne2.fr |access-date=15 September 2012 |archive-date=8 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120308170255/http://www.marianne2.fr/blogsecretdefense/Libye-premier-tir-operationnel-d-un-missile-de-croisiere-Scalp-par-la-France_a189.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> and a military bunker in [[Sirte]], the home town of Libyan leader [[Muammar Gaddafi]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-14677754|title=UK jets bomb Gaddafi hometown bunker|work=BBC News | date=26 August 2011}}</ref> In December 2011, Italian defence officials noted that Italian Tornado IDS aircraft had fired between 20 and 30 Storm Shadows during the Libyan Campaign. This was the first time that Italian aircraft had fired the missile in live combat, and it was reported the missile had a 97 per cent success rate.<ref>{{cite web|title=Italy Gives Bombing Stats for Libya Campaign|url=http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?i=8567271&c=AIR&s=EUR|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120727234740/http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?i=8567271&c=AIR&s=EUR|url-status=dead|archive-date=27 July 2012|access-date=15 December 2011}}</ref>

French aircraft fired 12 SCALP missiles at [[Islamic State|ISIS]] targets in [[Syria]] as part of [[Operation Chammal]]. These launches took place on 15 December 2015 and 2 January 2016. It is thought that these firings may have been approved after a decision by the French MoD to reduce their inventory of SCALP missiles to reduce costs.<ref>{{cite web |last=Tran |first=Pierre |date=7 January 2016 |title=Engine Support Surges With Rafale Flight Hours, Exports |url=http://www.defensenews.com/story/defense/air-space/support/2016/01/07/engine-support-surges-rafale-flight-hours-exports/78441944/ |access-date=31 January 2016 |work=[[Defense News]]}}</ref> On Sunday 26 June 2016 the RAF used four Storm Shadow missiles against an ISIS bunker in [[Iraq]]. The Storm Shadow missiles were launched from two Tornado aircraft. All four missiles scored direct hits, penetrating deep into the bunker. Storm Shadow missiles were used due to the bunker's massive construction.

In October 2016 the UK Government confirmed UK-supplied missiles were used by Saudi Arabia in the [[Yemeni Civil War (2015–present)|conflict in Yemen]].<ref>[http://www.defensenews.com/articles/uk-supplied-precision-weapons-prove-popular-in-saudi-led-yemen-campaign UK-Supplied Precision Weapons Prove Popular in Saudi-Led Yemen Campaign], Defensenews.com, 17 October 2016</ref>

In April 2018 the UK Government announced they used Storm Shadow missiles deployed by [[Tornado GR4|Panavia Tornado GR4s]] to [[April 2018 missile strikes against Syria|strike]] a chemical weapon facility in Syria.<ref>{{cite news| title=RAF jets strike chemical weapon facility in Syria | website=UK Government|publisher=Ministry of Defence and Gavin Williamson | date=14 April 2018 | url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/raf-jets-strike-chemical-weapon-facility-in-syria}}</ref> According to US Marine Corps Lt. Gen. [[Kenneth F. McKenzie Jr.|Kenneth McKenzie]], the Him Shinshar chemical weapons storage facility near Homs was hit by 9 US Tomahawks, 8 British Storm Shadows, 3 French MdCN cruise missiles, and 2 French SCALP cruise missiles.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-43767156|title=Trump hails 'perfect' Syria strikes|date=14 April 2018|website=Bbc.co.uk}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.militarytimes.com/pentagon/2018/04/14/us-launched-105-weapons-against-syria-with-none-intercepted-dod-says/|title=Coalition launched 105 weapons against Syria, with none intercepted, DoD says|website=Militarytimes.com|date=14 April 2018}}</ref> Satellite images showed that the site was destroyed in the attack.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2018/04/14/602550478/images-show-3-syrian-chemical-weapons-sites-before-and-after-missile-strikes|title=PHOTOS: 2 Syrian Chemical Weapons Sites Before And After Missile Strikes|first=Jenny|last=Gathright|date=14 April 2018|access-date=2 January 2022|website=Npr.org}}</ref> The Pentagon said that no missiles had been intercepted, and that the raids were "precise and overwhelming".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/apr/14/allies-dispute-russian-and-syrian-claims-of-shot-down-missiles |title=Allies dispute Russian and Syrian claims of shot down missiles |newspaper=The Guardian |date=14 April 2018 |author= Ewen MacAskill, and Julian Borger|access-date= 14 April 2018}}</ref> In response, the Russian Ministry of Defence, during a press conference in Moscow, presented parts of what they claimed was a downed Storm Shadow missile.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.interfax.ru/russia/610081|title=Российские военные показали обломки выпущенных по Сирии крылатых ракет|language=ru |trans-title=The Russian military showed the wreckage of cruise missiles fired at Syria|website=Interfax.ru|date=25 April 2018 |access-date=2 January 2022}}</ref>

It has been suggested that Storm Shadows, deployed by either Emirati [[Dassault Mirage 2000|Mirage 2000s]] or Egyptian [[Dassault Rafale|Rafales]], could have been used in the July 2020 airstrike against [[Al-Watiya Air Base]] during the [[Second Libyan Civil War]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/pauliddon/2020/08/26/uae-sends-fighter-jets-to-support-allies-against-turkey/?sh=1d43733827e1 | title=UAE Dispatches Fighter Jets to Support Its Allies Against Turkey | website=[[Forbes]] }}</ref> The attack against the base, which housed Turkish military personnel supporting the internationally recognised [[Government of National Accord]], injured several Turkish soldiers, destroyed their [[MIM-23 Hawk]] anti-aircraft missiles systems and their [[KORAL electronic warfare system]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.syriahr.com/en/173908/|title=Turkish Forces Lick Wounds After Airstrikes Hit Their Base In Libya|date=8 July 2021|work=[[Syrian Observatory for Human Rights]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.egypttoday.com/Article/1/89264/LNA-destroys-Turkish-air-defense-electronic-warfare-systems-western-Libya|title=LNA destroys Turkish air defense, electronic warfare systems western Libya|work=Egypt Today|date=5 July 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/africa/airstrikes-hit-libya-base-held-by-turkey-backed-forces/2020/07/05/edb71878-bef6-11ea-8908-68a2b9eae9e0_story.html |title=Airstrikes hit Libya base held by Turkey-backed forces |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=5 July 2020 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/turkey-libya-watiya-attack-vows-retribution |title=Libya: Turkey vows 'retribution' for attack on its positions at al-Watiya airbase |website=Middle East Eye |date=6 July 2020 }}</ref>

On 11 March 2021, two Royal Air Force Typhoon FGR4 jets operating out of [[RAF Akrotiri]], [[Cyprus]] hit a cave complex south west of the city of [[Erbil]] in northern Iraq, where a significant number of [[Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant|ISIS]] fighters were reported, marking the first combat use of the Storm Shadow from the Typhoon.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/typhoon-fires-storm-shadow-operationally-for-first-time|title=Typhoon fires Storm Shadow operationally for first time|website=Janes.com|access-date=2 January 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/39792/british-typhoons-have-used-storm-shadow-cruise-missiles-for-the-first-time-in-combat|title=British Typhoons Have Used Storm Shadow Cruise Missiles For The First Time In Combat|first=Thomas|last=Newdick|website=Thedrive.com|date=15 March 2021 |access-date=2 January 2022}}</ref>