Crimea Bridge on Alert: Missile Threats and Smoke Screens Unfold
3:38 PM EDT, April 15, 2024
Russians have declared a missile threat in Crimea, resulting in the closure of the Crimea Bridge. Nearby, a smoke screen, likely deployed by the Russian Federation army using special TDA-3 vehicles, was observed.
The alarm raised around the Crimea Bridge does not automatically imply a Ukrainian intention to target this infrastructure. It has been unofficially reported that two Storm Shadow missiles were directed at the bridge across the Kerch Strait. However, without confirmation from the defense forces, the exact target and potential impact of Ukraine's actions remain speculative.
Examining the equipment used by both conflict sides highlights the potential threat to the Crimea Bridge. Notably, the TDA-3 vehicles and Storm Shadow missiles pose a real danger to targets within a 186-mile radius of their Ukrainian launch sites, a range that encompasses the Crimea Bridge. This highlights the significant capabilities of the technologies in question.
The smoke near the Crimea Bridge may not indicate missile strikes
Social media reports from Monday, April 15, showed clouds of smoke near the Crimea Bridge. However, these sightings might not signify Ukrainian missile success. Instead, they could result from deploying TDA-3 vehicles capable of quickly generating extensive smoke coverage.
TDA-3 vehicles had previously been deployed near the Crimea Bridge. In May 2023, the Russians demonstrated the new smoke generators' effectiveness in protecting vital assets. Unlike earlier models, the TDA-3 requires a two-person crew weighing about 35,274 lbs. It consists of three modules: the first houses the power supply and batteries; the second contains two tanks for the smoke mixture, holding 238 and 660 gallons; and the third includes a 713-gallon powder tank alongside mixing devices. The impact of this technology is visible in the video below.
Regarding the Storm Shadow missiles reportedly aimed at the Crimea Bridge, these weapons have the capability to attack such targets. Produced since the early 21st century, Storm Shadow/SCALP missiles, particularly problematic for Russians, offer a range of about 310 miles for British and French variants. Powered by a turbojet, they reach subsonic speeds (up to 0.9 Ma, or about 683 mph) and carry a 992-lb BROACH warhead, consisting of a shaped charge to breach exteriors and a delayed-detonation penetrating charge. Additionally, their resistance to jamming makes neutralization in flight challenging.
