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It’s more of a strategic signal than a tactical move, but Russia has upped the ante in the Ukraine conflict by using what Ukraine calls an ICBM, and US military officials characterize as an IRBM (Intermediate range ballistic missile).
The difference is mainly in size and range rather than capability. Both types are ballistic missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads and carry MIRVs or multiple independently-targeted reentry vehicles. Both types of rockets move at hypersonic speeds, although neither qualifies for what we call hypersonic weapons today, as their trajectories are ballistic rather than maneuverable.
Our report on what we know and don’t know at this time:
Russia’s Unprecedented Ballistic Missile Attack On Ukraine: What We Know
Story: https://t.co/nx0kwjbd17— Tyler Rogoway (@Aviation_Intel) November 21, 2024
Obviously none of the warheads was a nuclear payload, and the reentry vehicles likely carried inert payloads typically used for testing purposes, unless Russia for some unknown reason decided to make specially prepared conventional munitions for a type of weapon for which they are not generally suited.
Another video of the ruSSian ICBM’s multiple independently targetable reentry vehicles https://t.co/maEa5qFcQi pic.twitter.com/88fEGZHy1r— ???????????? ???????????????? ????????????????????????????????△ ???????????????????????????????? (@TheDeadDistrict) November 21, 2024
The videos of the event were very impressive, although, in practical terms, the strike was more like a very, very expensive and visually impressive artillery attack with six big shells.
