Russia ramps up missile production: Ukraine reveals monthly output and stockpile figures

The plan is being fulfilled at 110–120 percent

For the main types of missile weapons, Russia is currently fulfilling its monthly production plan at 110–120 percent. In July, the production plan for Kh-101 cruise missiles was fulfilled at 140 percent, Kalibr missiles at 111 percent, and Kh-35 cruise missiles at 200 percent.

How many missiles are produced each month

• Kh-101: The plan for August is 72 missiles. The same number was planned for July, but 87 missiles were actually produced.

• 3M14 Kalibr: The plan for August is 26 missiles. The July target was the same, but 29 missiles were produced.

Why aircraft are being used less often

The Russians are experiencing technical problems with cruise missiles and aircraft, with some missiles failing to launch, said Major General Vadym Skibitskyi, deputy head of Ukraine's Defense Intelligence.

As a precaution, they deploy reserve aircraft.

"The Kh-101 missiles that fail during launch are sent back to production facilities so that technical problems can be identified and fixed," Skibitskyi said.

Where the Kalibr missiles are going

Most of the Kalibr missiles produced are now being used to equip other fleets, as all of Russia's new warships and submarines are equipped with these systems. In practice, the missiles are going into reserve.

Ukrainian air defense shoots down nearly 100 percent of Kalibr missiles when it has a sufficient number of anti-aircraft missiles.

Iskander stockpile approaches 130 missiles

"According to military intelligence, as of August 5, the stockpile allocated to the Russian military grouping stood at around 130 9M723 missiles," Skibitskyi said.

The planned monthly production rate is 60 missiles. However, in July, 65 were produced instead of 60.

New S-400-based surface-to-surface missile

"The missile the enemy uses in these attacks, the RM-48U, was specifically designed and is launched against ground targets. It is not a conventional surface-to-air missile that can be used for air defense. The S-400 system is used as its launch platform. It is a surface-to-surface missile. It follows a ballistic trajectory and has a speed of Mach 6," intelligence officials explained.

The enemy has established production of this missile: the plan for August is approximately 40 missiles, while estimated stockpiles stand at up to 400.

What new missiles have appeared in Russia's arsenal

• Banderol and Dan-T are loitering munitions launched from helicopters, with launches from aircraft now also being tested.

• Zircon is a missile that entered the arsenal this year.

• The upgraded Oniks previously struck only maritime targets but now has increased range and a more powerful warhead and can strike ground targets.

Earlier, freelance adviser to the President of Ukraine Serhii Beskrestnov (call sign Flash) said that Russia had accumulated a stockpile of several hundred ballistic missiles and was capable of regularly replenishing this arsenal through domestic production.

According to him, the Russians produce about 60–70 Iskander missiles each month and continue producing missiles for the S-400 as well as Zircon missiles, for a combined total of up to 100–150 new missiles per month.

Meanwhile, the Ukrainian Air Force reported that in July, Ukrainian air defense intercepted more than 5,300 drones and missiles while repelling massive attacks.

According to the military, ballistic missiles remain the key challenge for Ukrainian air defense.

Military intelligence also reported that Russia had already fulfilled its annual production plan for Zircon and Oniks missiles during the summer.

Over the first seven months of this year, Russia produced 33 Zircon missiles and 60 Oniks missiles.

In addition, intelligence reported that Russia had suspended production of Kinzhal missiles due to their low strike accuracy.

The resources and fuel freed up as a result are now being directed toward the production of other ballistic missiles.