Russian missile productions escalate, awaits favorable conditions
Ukrainian intelligence officer Vadim Skibicki revealed that in October 2023, Russia produced as many as 115 guided missiles with a range of over 217 miles. This figure almost doubles the number of missiles produced at the beginning of the year. Among the stockpiled missiles are the Kinzhal type. A reminder of the capabilities of the equipment Russia has been hoarding recently is pertinent.
In May 2023, Skibicki reported that Russia had exhausted their weapons reserves and refocused on current manufacturing. The Ukrainska Pravda portal noted that Russia could manufacture 67 missiles per month. This figure is roughly half less compared to the number of missiles produced by Russia in October 2023.
Last month, Russia's military sector added another 115 precise missiles to its arsenal, each with a range exceeding 217 miles. Reports of escalated production and weapons hoarding align with the Armed Forces of Ukraine's announcement. It states that the Russians have significantly lowered drone firing levels and may be accumulating equipment to launch an attack in conditions favorable to the aggressor's forces.
Russia's prospective plans might involve striking Ukraine's vital infrastructure facilities during the forthcoming winter. Skibicki points out that the Russians are anticipating increased strain on Ukraine's power grid when cold weather sets in, at which point attacks will be initiated. Russians are waiting for temperatures to drop below zero, claims Skibicki.
The missiles most recently produced in Russia pose the greatest threat to the defending forces:
- 40 Kh-101 missiles;
- 30 Iskander-M missiles;
- 20 Kalibr missiles;
- 12 Iskander-K missiles;
- 9 Kh-32 missiles;
- 4 Kh47M2 Kinzhal missiles
All of these missiles are categorized as long-range weapons. However, the missiles that pose the greatest threat to Ukraine are the ones that Russia has the most in stock, namely the Kh-101, as well as the modern Kinzhal missiles.
The Kh-101 missiles are typically equipped with a conventional warhead weighing about 882 lbs. The almost 24.6 feet long, Russian air-to-ground missile was crafted using stealth technology, yielding lower detectability. Its guidance system, comprising inertial navigation, satellite, and a combination of terrain mapping systems with a radio altimeter and an optoelectronic area recognition system, is also noteworthy.
It’s worth mentioning the Iskander missiles in their two variations as well. The "M" version can reach speeds of Mach 6 and altitudes of up to 31 miles. It can carry missiles armed with thermonuclear warheads and perform evasive maneuvers before missile defense. The "K" variant is capable of reaching a range of 310 miles.
The Kinzhals prove to be the toughest challenge for Ukrainian air defense systems, whose specifications remain partially unknown. While it has been demonstrated that it's possible to defend against this weapon, the Ch-47M2 Kinzhals are missiles that can strike targets up to 1,242 miles away. In addition, these structures hold roughly 1,058 lbs of explosive charge and can reportedly accelerate to speeds of Mach 10.
