"Powerful Ballistics Blew Up RF Fortifications"
- 18.06.2025, 11:08
Ukrainian general told about the details of the Sapsan missile strike.
The missile of the Ukrainian Sapsan operational-tactical missile system, known abroad as Grom-2, is capable of moving along an aeroballistic trajectory, performing unexpected maneuvers, which makes it a difficult target for anti-missile systems, said military analyst Dmitri Snegirev.
This ability significantly increases the probability of overcoming enemy air defense. Russia's Iskander missile defense system has similar characteristics. According to him, the real range of the Sapsan can reach 500 kilometers, which puts it on par with German Taurus missiles and surpasses the U.S. ATACMS, whose range is up to 300 kilometers, Telegraf reported.
Snegirev specified that Russian military airfields, including Millerovo and Baltimore, where the front-line aviation is based, actively used for strikes on AFU positions with the use of corrected aerial bombs (KABs and FABs), could fall within the missile's range.
The rear bases on both occupied and Russian territories also fall within the range. In his opinion, Ukraine's own ballistic missile could significantly undermine the enemy's logistics and change the political situation, depriving Russia of the ability to impose ultimatums.
Military expert Valeriy Ryabykh from Defense Express added that due to its powerful payload (from 500 kg to 1 ton) and long range, the Sapsan could play a key role in Ukraine's transition from a defensive strategy to a strategic offensive.
One of the missile's developers, retired Lieutenant General Igor Romanenko, told FREEDOM TV channel that the Sapsan project was initiated back in 2006.
With the outbreak of a full-scale war, the project received a new impetus. According to Romanenko, in 2023 successful tests of the missile took place, and in May 2024 - already combat launches at a distance of 300 kilometers. At that time, the Sapsan hit the Russian command post and the launchers of the Iskander complexes. Although earlier the project was limited to a range of 270 kilometers, even then the design included the potential for 500 kilometers.
The system's strengths include a powerful warhead and an advanced guidance system. Ukraine is now working on increasing production: the goal is to produce dozens, and in the future - hundreds of such missiles per month. According to Romanenko, drones and cruise missiles like Neptune alone will not solve the problem of long-range strikes.