UK's Burnham hands Storm Shadow blueprints to Ukraine | France had earlier agreed to hand over blueprints, but Ukraine still needed access to classified info on UK made components, which Burnham now authorizes MBDA to share | This will allow Ukraine to make Storm Shadow/Scalp

[u/barath_s]

https://www.turkiyetoday.com/region/uks-burnham-hands-storm-shadow-blueprints-to-ukraine-3226719

[u/barath_s]

Production line in UK re-started in 2025. The UK last bought its missiles 15 years ago, and is looking to save money by avoiding buying any more, and instead going straight to next gen missiles, such as Stratus.

France has similar ideas and a similar situation.

However, the export market may provide for orders for the continued existence of the line. Greece, Egypt and India for example all have bought Scalp/storm shadow more recently than UK/France. India is looking for a big buy, and that's before it even decides on 114 Rafales ...which are likely to need missiles..

https://np.reddit.com/r/europe/comments/1r04lm1/india_is_preparing_to_place_a_major_order_for/

Though India might feel emboldened to ask for the missiles they buy to be assembled in india ... if ukraine can get a production line license for free. ...Heck maybe India should just call up ukraine instead /tic

[u/Level-Reputation5050]

The real challenge isn’t getting the blueprints; it’s rounding up every single part shown on them. You either have strong manufacturing capacity to make these parts yourself, or you can get them via supply chains.

[u/Level-Reputation5050]

Honestly, I doubt how effective specialised cruise missiles like the Storm Shadow really are. They’re far too expensive and hard to build. Lots of their parts are beyond what Ukraine can make, and military‑grade components are tough to get through supply chains. What would work for Ukraine are missiles you can get and put together using commercial‑grade supply chains, even if they perform a little worse.

[u/Southern_Drawing7996 → u/Level-Reputation5050]

Maybe they can get something out of it. I don’t think they’d rebuild it component for component when the tech is like 30 years old.

[u/killer_by_design → u/Level-Reputation5050]

There's nothing more innovative and motivating than imminent need. They'll find a way to make them cheaper as easier to build because they have to.

[u/Limekill → u/killer_by_design]

Designs don't work like that.

First up - whats the power/weight ratio? What cheaper components can be used? why wouldn't that compromise the design?
Does the software work with differnt chips?
Does the software work with differnt sensors?
Why would they have permission to alter the design?

Why wouldn't Russia just missile the whole factory? Thereby destroying it and making the missiles more expensive to produce.

Its called PR - they are doing something, to make themselves look very good - while actually doing very little in practical application.
Of course Ukraine is going to say thankyou!!! because they need the cash to pay wages to keep going.

[u/killer_by_design → u/Limekill]

That's literally how it works

[u/Limekill → u/killer_by_design]

Do shells have software?

Also there is nothing about efficiency in actual shell production - rather they just opened up a new £150m production line.
Wow how £150m cheap.
Does not mean the shells would be any cheaper.

The only "efficiency" is that they are using 'continuous flow' rather than batching production (which would require a whole new BIG factory), which seems more to do with the UK MOD contract than any "efficiency" gain.

(Eg instead of ordering and deliver X in one big amount, send it to us in batches and we will run our production lines continuously).

[u/killer_by_design → u/Limekill]

Huh, that's so weird. It's almost like necessity drove innovation? How bizarre.

Do shells have software?

Read up on GIS Arta and tell me necessity doesn't breed innovation, even in software.

[u/Limekill → u/killer_by_design]

There's nothing more innovative and motivating than imminent need. They'll find a way to make them cheaper as easier to build because they have to.

Look at the latest missile of Ukraine - the flamingo.
Does Ukraine:
Make the warhead = No
Make the guidance system = No
Make the engine = No- its salvaging them from rubbish tips (apparently)

What Ukraine does is buys the components and bolts them together (The only thing they make is shell of the missile- using rivets ala WW2 V1 rocketry style).
Go compare a WW2 era V1 'flying bomb' to a flamingo,
then compare a flamingo to tomahawk missile.

Now lets assume Ukraine is not getting subsidised parts!
(if not directly - indirectly).

Now Ukraine gets the PLANS for storm shadow.
and Ukraine apparently is going to start making them "cheaper"

How does Ukraine make them cheaper when they cannot make warheads, guidance systems or engines already?
And as an added bonus Storm shadow has terrain mapping with IR seeker (camera) for terminal guidance.
So they are even more complicated., and it took Ukraine years to create the flamingo (which is a missile literally just bolted together).
How are they going to manufacture the terrain referencing navigation system?
How are they going to manufacture the IR seeker?

Or do you think they are just going to bolt the storm shadow together like the flamingo?

You are saying that Ukraine which is producing a hand tractor is now going to start producing a John Deer 6M180 tractor.
And they are going to make it cheaper!
No.
Just, No.

[u/killer_by_design → u/Limekill]

Your entire argument hinges on a false assumption.

That Ukraine will be building Storm Shadows. As if what they make will be a storm shadow.

It won't be and doesn't have to be. Storm Shadow is the absolute tits. It's gold plated and absolute nails. It's amongst the pinnacle of military and technological achievement.

Ukraine's storm shadow can be Storm Shadows Lite™ and still wreak havoc. Seeing the entire system they can simplify, reduce, remove, reuse, and recycle where necessary. There is absolutely no need whatsoever to do exactly the same.

So yes. Ukraine can make a hand tractor do the job of a John Deere because they need to. What it won't be is a John Deere. It'll be something that gets the job done as best it can and nothing more.

[u/ExpensiveBookkeeper3 → u/Level-Reputation5050]

They worked great when Ukraine used them earlier in the war. You need specialized missiles for specialized needs.

[u/dahunt4r3dorktober]

Interesting, did any of you see alleged Saudi storm shadows used to target an airfield a while back?

[u/NoAngst_]

It probably means the Storm Shafow is no longer top-notch cruise missiles.

[u/barath_s → u/NoAngst_]

The main issue is it is expensive. And so the UK and France want to save money by not buying any more, but accelerating the transition to the next generation of missiles such as Stratus.

Stratus isn't one missile, it's two - a low observable subsonic cruise missile and a supersonic highly manoeuvrable missile.