Russian missile upgrades challenge Ukrainian air defences
Russians are modernizing ballistic missiles, making it more challenging for air defence systems like the Patriot to intercept them, claims Yurii Ihnat from the Ukrainian Air Force in an interview with the Ukrainian agency Unian.
Russian ballistic missiles are undergoing modernization, presenting obstacles for air defence systems such as the Patriot. Yurii Ihnat, a representative of the Ukrainian Air Force, mentioned in an interview with Unian that Russians are targeting Ukraine with these modernized missiles, and they are not always intercepted with complete success.
New technologies in missiles
Ihnat explained that Russians are introducing technologies into the missiles that reduce the effectiveness of defence systems. The missiles can now deploy radar decoys, making them harder to intercept. Additionally, the missiles travel along quasi-ballistic trajectories, complicating the calculation of the interception point.
Patriot systems, which are capable of intercepting ballistic missiles, are having difficulty predicting the trajectory of modernized missiles. Ihnat emphasized that although the interception process is challenging, it is not impossible. Cooperation with partners aims at further improving these systems.
Effectiveness of air defence
Ihnat points out that one type of enhanced missile is the Iskander-M. To clarify, this system is equipped with a launcher that can fire missiles weighing up to 5,000 kilograms. These missiles exceed a length of 7 metres and have a diameter of about 1 metre. Once launched, they reach hypersonic speeds, exceeding 28,000 km/h. Due to such immense speed, the Iskander-M poses a challenge to defensive systems.
It is also important to note that Iskander-M systems are characterized by exceptional precision. These powerful missiles hit designated targets with great accuracy. The weapon's accuracy, measured by the CEP indicator, is 30 metres, indicating its high effectiveness.
