Ukraine's drone strategy: Targeting Russian missile silos
The Ukrainian "Spiderweb" operation using drones on Russian military airfields opens new strategic opportunities, according to the Ukrainian agency Unian's portal. Military expert Anatoliy Khrapchynski notes that the military can go a step further and use drones to attack Yars or Satan missile complexes.
The "Spiderweb" operation conducted by Ukrainian special services using drones on Russian military airfields has strategic significance. War analyst and military industry expert Anatoliy Khrapchynski emphasizes that these actions may prevent Russia from further utilizing this type of weaponry.
New capabilities of drones
Khrapchynski points out that the drones used in the operation may in the future fly into intercontinental ballistic missile silos, such as the RS-24 Yars or RS-28 Satan. This demonstrates the broad range of possibilities that this technology possesses.
Khrapchynski explained that the success of the operation stems from strategic foresight, aiming to prevent the Russian Federation from deploying this type of weapon in the future. He noted that the development opens new possibilities, emphasizing that such a drone could potentially reach high-value targets like a Yars or Satan missile system.
Weapons the Ukrainians might target
The RS-28 Satan missile mentioned by the expert is a three-stage liquid-fueled missile, measuring approximately 35 metres in length and with a mass of about 208 tonnes. This missile is capable of carrying 10 heavy or 15 lighter nuclear warheads over a distance of about 18,000 kilometres. It reaches a speed of approximately 25,000 kilometres per hour, allowing it to cover about 7 kilometres in a second. After launch, the missile can remain airborne for several hours, performing maneuvers, which significantly complicates its interception by missile defence systems.
