Military expert Dmitry Kornev - what new missile systems can strengthen Russia's western borders
At a meeting of the Russian Security Council on March 11, Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said that in response to the strengthening of NATO forces at the western borders of the country, the General Staff is developing and has actually completed a plan to strengthen our western borders. "Including, of course, those new, modern complexes, and the relocation of combat units there to protect our western borders," the minister said. What new weapons systems can Russia move to the borders and what capabilities do they have? Of course, information about new developments — as well as plans for their deployment in one part or another of the country - is closed. However, you can try to guess what the options may be.
The first and probably the main thing that is important to note is that after Belarus has adopted amendments to the constitution, our nuclear missile systems can be placed on its territory. These can be both ground-based missile systems and air-based combat systems. If we are talking about systems that can carry nuclear warheads, then their choice is not so great.
Candidate No. 1 here is the 9K720 Iskander-M universal missile system and its modifications. The peculiarity of the modern Iskander-M is that it can use several types of missiles: the ballistic 9M723 and, probably, its upgraded version with an extended range, as well as 9M728 cruise missiles with a range of up to 500 km. Both of them can carry a nuclear warhead. Ballistic missiles are capable of striking almost instantly - in a matter of minutes — with high accuracy and with virtually no chance for missile defense. I think they will form the basis of the strike force.
An upgraded missile for the Iskander-M complex with an increased range of action can hypothetically already be put into service. All work on improving missiles for Iskanders is extremely closed, but it is the appearance of an updated ballistic missile that would be the most logical and proactive step to counteract the Western hypersonic systems that are still being created. Taking into account the fact that Russia had a serious reserve in the development of hypersonic missiles, I consider the appearance of ammunition as part of a conventional or upgraded Iskander-M quite possible.
The combat capabilities of the updated Iskander-M would ensure the defeat of any targets at a range of at least 500 km — that is, throughout Poland, in part of the territory of East Germany to Berlin. The main targets for this combat system would be bases, missile positions and headquarters.
Candidate No. 2 is the Kinzhal aviation hypersonic missile system, which is in service with the Russian aerospace forces. The peculiarity of the "Daggers" is that the MiG-31I carrier aircraft can be quickly transferred to any airfields both on the territory of Russia and on the territory of the allies. The range of the "Daggers" - more than 2000 km - allows you to hit almost any target on the European continent. The fact that the missiles of the complex can be used both on land and on sea moving targets ensures the application of pinpoint strikes on sea communications and aircraft carrier strike groups of a potential enemy. The main problem of "Daggers" when working at maximum range in Eastern Europe is throwing over territory controlled by a potential enemy. But if you work from the Arctic, then you can keep Iceland, the territory of Great Britain and the North Sea under the gun. Yes, it is likely that aircraft carrying Daggers there will be threatened by aircraft from Norway, from the territory of Great Britain and from aircraft carriers, but the MiG-31 is one of the fastest modern aircraft, and it has good chances in confrontation with modern Western interceptors.
As already mentioned, the main targets for the "Daggers" can be aircraft carriers and also any dangerous military objects such as positions of air defense and missile defense systems. It will be almost impossible to intercept the Daggers after launch, as well as the Iskander ballistic missiles.
Candidate No. 3 is still purely hypothetical: this may be the reincarnation of the strategic missile complex "Rubezh" with a large and powerful intermediate-range missile (up to 6000 km), which can hit any target on the European continent from anywhere in the European part of Russia. It is believed that the "Frontier" in 2011-2015 passed flight tests, but was postponed until better times. It may well be that the time has come for the creation and placement of new "eurorackets". If adopted, the Rubezh missiles will probably be able to carry both conventional light-class ballistic warheads, similar to the Yars intercontinental missiles, and in the future guided warheads. With them, it will be a highly accurate and resistant to any modern anti-missile systems missile system.
Finally, candidate No. 4 is a top secret "ace up his sleeve" — a kind of new missile system with completely new capabilities and with a range of 500 to 4000 km, the creation of which is logical to assume taking into account the termination of the Treaty on the Limitation of Medium and Short-range Missiles. There is no specific information on the creation of such a missile system, but taking into account the increased secrecy measures, it cannot be excluded that it will appear in the coming months and years. Probably, such a complex could use the vast experience of operating Iskander-M missile systems and would take a lot from this missile complex. Perhaps this complex would use a new launcher with a five-axle chassis. This would significantly expand the payload capabilities, and therefore would allow one launcher to carry two or more missiles. A kind of Iskander-2 would be a logical development of the old Iskander in a new historical reality.
I think in the coming months we will find out the specifics of what is hidden behind "those new modern complexes", and we will be able to more accurately assess their capabilities.
Dmitry Kornev
The author is a military expert, editor-in-chief of the MilitaryRussia Internet project
The editorial board's position may not coincide with the author's opinion
