Number of missiles Russia produces per month: New Defense Intelligence data
Vadym Skibitskyi, representative of the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine (Vitalii Nosach, RBC-Ukraine)
As of January 2024, Russia produces approximately 115-130 strategic missiles, along with 100-115 missiles of operational-tactical class. In recent months, there has been no increase in production, according to Major General Vadym Skibitskyi, a representative of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense, in an interview with RBC-Ukraine.
"They have not been able to significantly increase these volumes. Currently, the maximum indicators remain the same (as in October of last year) - about 115-130 strategic missiles. However, they may vary depending on the month. The level of production depends on the capacity utilization, on components, as many parts, such as those for the Kh-101, Kinzhal, Kalibr, are of foreign production," he said.
According to Skibitskyi, Russia has suffered significant losses due to its enterprises involved in supplying components being under international sanctions.
"And they cannot meet their own needs with its analogues. Moreover, in December, they did not produce certain types of missiles at all, there was a zero indicator - both planned and actual," he added.
Skibitskyi said that currently, Russians are trying to maintain a certain strategic reserve, typically around 30% of their existing stockpiles.
"A vivid example is that since mid-September, Russians have not used either the Kh-101 or the Kalibr. There was an accumulation of these missiles. Moreover, we clearly understand that everything produced is immediately deployed to the battlefield. Speaking of released cruise missiles, during attacks, products of the III and IV quarters were recorded. This once again indicates that their reserves are not very large, and what is produced is immediately applied against our state," said the Defense Intelligence representative.
Operational-tactical missiles
As Skibitsky reported, the entire range - Kh-31, Kh-35, Kh-29, Kh-59 - is mostly produced with Russian components.
"Moreover, this missile is of a completely different class, it is not strategic. These are guided aviation missiles. Accordingly, the targets for which they can be used are also different. These missiles - Kh-31 and Kh-59 - are primarily aimed at air defense assets, at our radar stations that need to be targeted before or during mass strikes," explained the
Regarding production, Skibitskyi mentioned that it depends on the type of missile.
"Unfortunately, they have the capability to produce 100-115 missiles of this operational-tactical class (such as Kh-31, Kh-59, etc.)," he added.
Foreign components
In January, the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) reported that 42 components and parts of foreign origin were found in Russian aviation missiles like the Kh-59.
In the summer, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that one of the missiles Russia used to strike Kryvyi Rih had about 50 foreign components. In June, it was also revealed that Russian Kalibr missiles, used to shell Odesa, had over 40 foreign components.
