Russia Fortifies Arsenal with 1,000 Missiles Amidst Ukrainian Conflict
The continuous missile attacks from Russia on Ukrainian positions raise a significant question: How many missiles does Russia have at its disposal? Ilya Yevlash, the Ukrainian Air Forces spokesperson, discussed this issue on Ukrainian state television.
For months, Russia has adopted a new strategy involving the accumulation of a more significant missile stockpile for regular attacks on Ukraine. This tactic, simultaneously launching multiple missiles, poses a more significant challenge for defense systems, which must now track and intercept numerous incoming threats simultaneously. Despite this, Ukrainian forces have impressively managed to maintain near-total effectiveness in repelling these massive assaults, showcasing their resilience and defensive capabilities.
Counting Russia's Missiles
Remarkably, missile production in Russia has increased since the onset of the conflict. The New York Times reported a spike in missile and tank production rates. Before the conflict escalated, Russia produced around 100 tanks annually, which doubled in 2023.
Ilya Yevlash notes that, according to the Main Directorate of Intelligence, Russia still has a considerable arsenal, nearly 1,000 missiles ready for use. Even as Russian forces intensify their missile attacks, thereby depleting their reserves, they seem to manage to replenish their arsenal effectively.
Additionally, Russia employs some of its missile capabilities for reconnaissance, testing both the missiles and Ukrainian defences under combat conditions. This strategy gathers intelligence on Ukrainian defence systems and assesses their capabilities.
Ukrainian intelligence has not disclosed the specifics of the missile types in the Russian arsenal. However, it is speculated that a significant portion is comprised of Kh-101 missiles, a modern Russian design in production since 2010-2011. Used frequently in attacks, the Kh-101 is about 24 feet long, weighs nearly 2.7 tons, can travel up to a speed of 621 miles per hour, and has a range of approximately 2,800 miles.
This ongoing conflict underscores the critical need for vigilance and robust defence mechanisms as both sides engage in a high-stakes game of military strategy and countermeasures.
