Why Ukraine doesn't hit Russia's Iskander launchers and what new ballistic weapons could change
Photo: The Ukrainian Armed Forces do not attack Iskander missiles on the ground; their own ballistics will change the situation (Getty Images)
Ukraine will be able to effectively counter Russian ballistic missiles by destroying their launchers once it acquires its own mass-produced ballistic missiles, according to aviation expert Kostiantyn Kryvolap.
Key points:
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The Russians are hiding their Iskanders at military airfields. These facilities have large bunkers where the launchers can be stored.
- The Ukrainian Air Force can destroy the Iskanders. But this takes time for the combat aircraft of the Ukrainian Armed Forces to deliver a precision strike.
- If several Russian launchers are destroyed, the number of strikes on Kyiv will decrease significantly. Ukrainian ballistic capabilities will allow for effective countermeasures against the Iskanders.
According to the expert, the Russians are deploying the ballistic missile launchers used to attack the capital at a distance of 200–250 kilometers from the border. Over the past few years, there have been several confirmed hits on Iskander missile systems, but they are very difficult to detect.
Where Russians hide their Iskanders
For the most part, Iskander missile systems are hidden in hangars at military airfields, where there are large aircraft hangars.
Only a long-range reconnaissance drone can detect the deployment of ground-based systems to combat positions, because it is virtually impossible for a person to notice such movements—the perimeters of these airfields are very well guarded.
If a reconnaissance drone detects the Iskander’s deployment, it transmits the information to the command post, and an order is then issued from that command post to the aircraft. By the time the combat aircraft take off and reach the strike target, the Iskander system will have already arrived and launched its strike.
It takes 40–50 minutes for an Iskander to reach its launch position, and another 20 minutes for deployment. This means that Ukrainian aviation must get there before the Russian crew.
Ukrainian ballistics would radically change situation
Ukrainian ballistic missiles, such as the FP-7, will be able to strike Iskanders much more quickly. Fire Point missiles will have a range of 250–300 kilometers and will be able to hit launchers very quickly.
"There aren’t that many launch sites. And when they arrive and deploy, our ballistic missiles will strike. Then we’ll be able to effectively destroy them. We need to destroy 2–3–5 systems, and all the others will have to decide whether to leave or stay. Because it would be suicide," Kryvolap emphasizes.
Earlier, the Defense Intelligence of Ukraine (HUR) reported that Russia was using Japanese and Chinese machine tools in the production of guided munitions, missiles, and artillery ammunition.
Also earlier, HUR reported on 68 new components identified in Russian missiles and drones used by Russia to attack Ukrainian energy facilities.
