Ballistic missiles are projectiles that fly along a ballistic trajectory. This means that the missiles are in unguided motion.
Ballistic missiles are among the most difficult targets for Ukrainian air defense, as they can fly long distances and be launched from stationary and mobile installations.
Read more about what ballistic weapons are and what danger they pose to Ukraine in the article.
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What ballistic missiles does the Russian Federation have in service:
- Iskander;
- Sarmat;
- Topol-M;
- RS-24 Yars;
- Luna-M;
- Dot-U;
- KN-23 HVASON 11GA of North Korean manufacture;
- Mace 30.
Military expert Alexey Getman notes that Russia most often uses Iskander ballistic missiles. The Russian Federation also uses the rather outdated Tochka-U and Luna-M ballistic missiles from less serious ballistic weapons.
A ballistic missile differs from a cruise missile in that it flies along a ballistic trajectory. In other words, it has the ability to rise high and attack vertically from above. Cruise missiles can constantly maneuver (like an airplane without a pilot).
The ballistic missiles that Russia is shelling Ukraine with are short- and medium-range missiles, for example, the Iskander has a range of up to 1,000 km. It does not fly exactly like a projectile (rises into the sky and falls), but has the ability to slightly change direction during flight.
However, Iskander cannot perform maneuvers like a cruise missile, i.e. turn around and fly in the opposite direction. But a cruise missile can (albeit by 180 degrees).
The Tochka-U ballistic missile flies a distance of 100-120 km, does not maneuver, but moves along a certain trajectory. It does not see anything at all, flies just like a dummy and is easily intercepted.
They also found Luna-M. This is a rocket from the 1960s, with an even shorter range than Tochka-U (70-80 km). It is very inaccurate, can deviate from the target by 1 km. It is about the same as Katyusha, which they once had.
Next come longer-range missiles, such as sea- or silo-based missiles. And, of course, intercontinental ballistic missiles such as the SS-20, SS-22, Topol, Sarmat, and so on.
They rise into space and continue to fly by inertia, like a meteorite, and fall due to the force of gravity.
Large intercontinental missiles have not one warhead, but 5-7 (missiles). When they fly out into space, they can split up. One missile can hit 5-7 targets. This is a nuclear charge.
Ballistic missiles that the Russian Federation currently uses, such as Iskander, can also carry a nuclear charge, but they can also contain conventional explosives (high explosives, etc.).
The Patriot air and missile defense system and the SAMP-T systems can combat ballistic missiles.
Patriot can destroy both Iskanders and Zolfaghar or Fateh-110.
What does Ukraine have to defeat ballistic missiles?
The SAMP-T anti-aircraft missile system, created by the Eurosam consortium, is a high-precision air defense system. It effectively neutralizes both aerodynamic (aircraft) and ballistic targets at distances of up to 100 km and 25 km, respectively. Thanks to the use of the Aster-30 missile with a 20 kg warhead and a speed of 1,400 m/s, the system is capable of simultaneously tracking and destroying up to 16 air targets.
Patriot is an American air defense system equipped with missiles that operate on the principle of kinetic destruction. This means that the missile destroys the target due to the force of impact at extremely high speed.
