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Pakistan Claims Interception of SCALP Missile Fired from Indian Rafale Jet as Regional Tensions Escalate.
On May 12, 2025, images shared on the X platform by @DefencePakistan reportedly showed that Pakistan’s air defense system had successfully intercepted a French-made SCALP cruise missile, allegedly launched from a Rafale fighter jet belonging to the Indian Air Force. This event would have occurred amid heightened tensions in the Jammu and Kashmir region, reflecting an evolving phase of technological confrontation between two regional nuclear-armed powers.
The SCALP is equipped with a 450 kg BROACH warhead, a tandem-charge system capable of defeating heavily fortified structures such as underground bunkers or command centers. (Picture source: Army Recognition)
The SCALP missiles, also known as Storm Shadow within the UK armed forces, were reportedly delivered to India under its initial Rafale procurement contract with France. Although the exact number of transferred missiles has not been officially disclosed, Indian military analysts estimate the inventory at around 150 units. Currently, the Rafale remains the only platform in the Indian service capable of launching the SCALP missile. The SCALP (Système de Croisière Autonome à Longue Portée), also designated Storm Shadow in the UK, is a long-range air-to-surface cruise missile developed jointly by France and the United Kingdom through MBDA. Designed for precision strikes against fortified targets, the missile is capable of reaching ranges of up to 560 kilometers at subsonic speeds of approximately Mach 0.8 to 0.95. It can be deployed from various aircraft platforms, including the Rafale, Mirage 2000, Eurofighter Typhoon, and Tornado GR4. Its guidance system relies on a combination of GPS, inertial navigation, and a terrain reference system (TERPROM), supported by an imaging infrared seeker with automatic target recognition for terminal guidance, ensuring accuracy even under jamming or degraded GPS conditions.
The SCALP is equipped with a 450 kg BROACH warhead, a tandem-charge system capable of defeating heavily fortified structures such as underground bunkers or command centers. The first stage of the charge is designed to breach outer defenses, while the second, more powerful charge detonates within the structure to maximize internal damage. Powered by a Microturbo TRI 60-30 turbojet engine delivering 5.4 kN of thrust, the missile follows a low-altitude flight profile to reduce exposure to air defense systems. Its aerodynamic design and radar-absorbing materials enhance its low observability, making the SCALP a capable system for long-range strategic strikes.
The images shared reportedly showed debris from the intercepted missile, including identifiable parts of the fuselage and the BROACH warhead. Other angles also appeared to reveal the Microturbo TRI 60-30 turbojet engine, developed and manufactured in France. If confirmed, these elements would point to the ability of Pakistani defenses to detect and neutralize a sophisticated stealth platform, marking a potential shift in the regional military balance.
The SCALP missile may have been launched from an Indian Rafale that was itself reportedly shot down during the night of May 7, 2025. Debris attributed to either a Rafale or Mirage 2000 was reportedly found approximately 20 kilometers from Bathinda Air Base, inside Indian territory. The Pakistani Ministry of Defence claimed the downing of at least six Indian fighter aircraft in recent engagements, although independent sources have so far confirmed only four. The aircraft reportedly involved include Rafales, and possibly MiG-29s and Su-30MKIs, based on the discovery of a K-36DM ejection seat, used in both aircraft types, in the Ramban region.
The images shared reportedly showed debris from the intercepted missile, including identifiable parts of the fuselage and the BROACH warhead (Picture source: X Channel @DefensePakistan)
The targeted Rafale would have been intercepted by a J-10CE multirole fighter of Chinese origin, operated by the Pakistan Air Force. These aircraft are reportedly armed with PL-15E beyond-visual-range air-to-air missiles. The use of such missiles would suggest growing interoperability and enhanced technical capability within the Pakistani forces, supported in part by deeper cooperation with China. Meanwhile, the confirmed use of air-launched BrahMos missiles in the region, deployed exclusively on modified Su-30MKIs, would indicate increased precision-strike activity by Indian forces. The BrahMos, a supersonic Indo-Russian cruise missile, is designed for high-value target engagement and reflects New Delhi’s ongoing modernization efforts.
This escalation would reflect both the rapid modernization of the two nations’ armed forces and the heightened risk of confrontation through targeted strikes or aerial engagements. The reported interception of a SCALP missile by Pakistan could be interpreted as a strategic signal, intended to demonstrate that Indian technological capabilities do not ensure uncontested superiority. By releasing detailed visual evidence, including fragments of the warhead and engine, Pakistani authorities would likely aim to assert the credibility of their defense posture in the face of advanced threats.
if confirmed, the interception of a SCALP cruise missile by Pakistan would represent a significant development in the strategic rivalry between New Delhi and Islamabad. The event would underscore the evolving strike and defense systems on both sides, the influence of external defense partnerships with countries such as France, Russia, and China, and the imperative for both nations to maintain a stable military equilibrium. In a context where each new capability could lead to operational demonstrations, control of the air domain and the reliability of active defenses would remain critical factors for South Asian stability.