They likely have started as they fall away from the pylon. The Stormshadow, and other cruise missiles, use jet propulsion and don’t usually have a very visible exhaust. The reason ground and ship launched versions have the smoke trail is because they use a solid fuel booster to push them up to speed initially for the jet to start. Air launched missiles already have speed and altitude, so you don’t need a booster.
I would have liked to see the motors start.
They likely have started as they fall away from the pylon. The Stormshadow, and other cruise missiles, use jet propulsion and don’t usually have a very visible exhaust. The reason ground and ship launched versions have the smoke trail is because they use a solid fuel booster to push them up to speed initially for the jet to start. Air launched missiles already have speed and altitude, so you don’t need a booster.
Right? They don’t feel “launched” so much as “dropped”.