Mysterious "Oreshnik": What it is and how the rocket that struck Dnipro was developed.
The Russian dictator Vladimir Putin announced on Thursday that Russia launched a strike using a "ballistic missile with a non-nuclear hypersonic warhead" of medium range at Dnipro. This refers to the strike carried out early on November 21, which was previously believed to have used an intercontinental ballistic missile. However, it has now been revealed that a different weapon was employed, specifically the new ballistic missile "Oreshnik". UNN has gathered information for you about this new development from the enemy.
"Our missile troops have named it 'Oreshnik,'" the Russian dictator said in his televised address released after the strike on Dnipro. Putin also stated that Ukraine "lacks the means" to counter the new "Oreshnik" missiles.
According to the dictator, the use of "Oreshnik" was a response to Ukraine's employment of American and British long-range weapons.
As reported by two U.S. officials and one Western official, the "experimental" Russian missile carried multiple warheads, which may mark the first instance of such weaponry being used in the conflict.
Russia warned the U.S. about the launch of its missile through the National Center for Reducing Nuclear Danger, according to the Kremlin and the Pentagon. "The warning was sent automatically 30 minutes before the launch," said Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov.
What is "Oreshnik"?
From open sources, it is known that this is a multi-purpose warhead with individual guidance (Separate Warhead with Individual Guidance Blocks - RGV IN). This means that the carrier can carry several warheads, each of which can be targeted at a specific location, allowing one ballistic missile to deliver a more extensive strike. RGV IN was developed during the Cold War to ensure the delivery of multiple nuclear warheads in a single launch. In the U.S., a missile with similar characteristics is the Minuteman III – an intercontinental ballistic missile that has been in service with the U.S. Army since the 1970s.
Sabrina Singh, the Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary, described "Oreshnik" as a variant of the Russian ballistic missile RS-26. The RS-26 is a 40-ton solid-fuel missile. Depending on the angle of launch, the RS-26 can travel just over 5400 kilometers, placing it almost on par with intercontinental missiles. However, the RS-26 is still considered more comfortable and effective for launching as a medium-range ballistic missile – up to 5400 km.
As reported by Forbes, the issue for the RS-26 (MBR "Rubezh") designers was that until 2019, the U.S. and Russia were parties to the 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, which prohibited testing and deploying missiles with ranges from 310 to 3400 miles (approximately 500 to 5400 km).
In 2019, both the U.S. and Russia withdrew from the treaty, but even before abandoning their commitments, Russia continued the development of the missile. To avoid openly violating the INF Treaty during tests before 2019, the Russians directed the RS-26 to travel slightly beyond the treaty's threshold of 3400 miles, even though the missile's design was intended for medium rather than intercontinental range.
Experts believe that the RS-26 is not necessarily an intercontinental ballistic missile, and its successor "Oreshnik" (code RS-28) is almost certainly not one either. However, the development of these missiles was conducted secretly and essentially circumvented the agreements that were in effect until 2019.
CNN obtained photographs of debris from Russian missiles launched at Dnipro.
It is reported that the fragments in the photos may not necessarily belong to a single missile.
The founder of the Charity Fund Close the Sky of Ukraine, former Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Lieutenant General Igor Romanenko, stated in an interview with Radio NV that "Oreshnik" likely entered service with the Russian missile regiment in October of this year. Not all of the produced missiles were supplied to the military. He also clarified that while the MBR "Rubezh" (RS-26) likely carries 4 warheads, the "Oreshnik" has a greater number of warheads – probably 6.
What to use for interception?
Igor Romanenko suggests that theoretically, the "Oreshnik" could be intercepted by missile defense systems such as Patriot and SAMP/T. However, he clarifies that the war will test this. According to Romanenko, systems similar to those the U.S. deployed at the base in Poland are needed – these are naval variants of missile defense, but the Americans have also adapted them for land use.
"Additionally, there is an even more powerful American system THAAD (a mobile ground-based missile defense system for high-altitude intercept of medium-range ballistic missiles developed in the USA – ed.). The Israelis have corresponding missile systems. By the way, the Germans are purchasing such systems from the Israelis, which will be capable of doing this," Romanenko added.