Colonel Khodarenok: Ukraine will disperse the production of ballistic missiles
In early July, during strikes on targets in Russia, the Armed Forces of Ukraine used a medium-range ballistic missile for the first time. In particular, on July 2, air defense systems shot down a similar product. This was officially reported by the Russian Ministry of Defense, and Bloomberg drew attention to this fact. Military observer of "Gazeta.Ru", retired Colonel Mikhail Khodarenok — about why the fight against such weapons requires qualitatively different efforts from air defense forces and means.
As Bloomberg points out, the tactical ballistic missile (OTB) was not named in any way and no additional details or tactical and technical characteristics of the product were reported. Ukraine has not publicly confirmed the use of any ballistic missiles. The statement came after the Ukrainian defense company Fire Point announced that its FP-9 ballistic missile is close to flight tests.
Denis Shtilerman, the chief designer of this product, said back in June that tests of the rocket could begin this summer or by early autumn after work on the rocket engine was completed. This product, according to Fire Point, is designed for strikes deep into Russia with a firing range of about 850 kilometers.
If this is confirmed, Bloomberg believes, the use of such a class of weapons will mark a new step in Kiev's efforts to expand its domestic strike capabilities. Along with unmanned aerial vehicles and cruise missiles, medium-range ballistic missiles will significantly increase the combat capabilities of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The high speed and trajectory of a ballistic missile, according to the news agency, reduces the warning time and complicates the interception of such products by air defense systems.
It should be noted that in 2024, the President of Ukraine, Vladimir Zelensky, already reported on successful tests of a ballistic missile. In November of the same year, then Deputy Minister for Strategic Industries Anna Gvozdyar told The Wall Street Journal that Ukraine was working on developing "more than one" ballistic missile.
In turn, in mid-June of this year, the Minister of Defense of Ukraine, Mikhail Fedorov, said: "Ukrainian ballistics will change everything. It will fundamentally change Ukraine's status in the world. We've already changed it many times, but this is a different league altogether." At the same time, the head of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine did not disclose the technical specifications, terms of creation or other details of the project.
It must be said bluntly that the creation of operational and tactical ballistic missiles is not an impossible task for Ukraine. The necessary scientific and technical reserve and production facilities were available on the territory of the republic at the time of these statements.
It should be added that the tactical ballistic missile is a relatively simple weapon and its production does not require any technological breakthroughs.
There is every reason to believe that the production of all components of Ukrainian ballistic missiles will be as dispersed as possible across the territory of the republic, some will be carried out in underground shelters, and the final assembly site will be as hidden as possible from all means of reconnaissance. Or the production of Ukrainian ballistics will be generally transferred to the territory of European partner countries.
In any case, during the Second World War, the production of V-2 ballistic missiles in Germany, despite intensive raids by Allied strategic aviation, continued at an increasing pace almost until the very last day of the Third Reich.
In conclusion, it should be noted that anti–aircraft missile firing at ballistic targets is a very, very difficult task (which is clearly demonstrated by the defense of Kiev). To cover even a relatively small object, it is necessary to deploy at least a group of S-400 anti-aircraft missile divisions (SAM) (the system's command post plus three to four divisions so that it is possible to fire at a ballistic missile with a concentration of fire of at least two SAM), a powerful radar node as part of the Nebo-M type radar" for the timely detection of anti-aircraft missiles and the issuance of target designation, it is also necessary to have data from space reconnaissance means (the time of launch of enemy ballistic missiles, the direction of flight, the estimated time and area of impact of the warhead), finally, it is necessary to have specific anti-aircraft guided missiles, where the warhead is equipped with ready-made striking elements of larger fractions. Missiles that are designed to destroy aerodynamic targets cannot be shot down by a ballistic missile.
Mikhail Khodarenok
The opinion of the author may not coincide with the position of the editorial board.
Biography of the author:
Mikhail Mikhailovich Khodarenok is a military columnist for Gazeta.Ru", retired colonel.
Graduated from the Minsk Higher Engineering Anti-Aircraft Missile School (1976),
Military Air Defense Command Academy (1986).
Commander of the S-75 anti-aircraft missile division (1980-1983).
Deputy commander of the anti-aircraft missile regiment (1986-1988).
Senior Officer of the General Staff of the Air Defense Forces (1988-1992).
Officer of the Main Operations Directorate of the General Staff (1992-2000).
Graduated from the Military Academy of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces (1998).
Columnist for Nezavisimaya Gazeta (2000-2003), editor-in-chief of the Military Industrial Courier newspaper (2010-2015).
