2024-10-08 20:52:59
Ukraine wants to overcome restrictions on Western weapons with its own missiles. Now a new model is said to have been tested.
Ukraine says it has tested a new ballistic missile. This was announced by President Volodymyr Zelensky. Since it is a secret project, not many details are known. So far, no official name or possible range has been made public. The range is probably well over 300 kilometers.
However, the missile is likely to represent an important step towards greater autonomy for Ukraine when making decisions about missile ranges. So far, missiles supplied by the West have not been allowed to be used to attack targets on Russian territory. Ukraine strongly calls for these restrictions to be lifted.
With its own missile, Ukraine would be able to decide for itself where it wanted to attack. Ukraine plans to increase its own production of drones, long-range missiles and ballistic missiles by 2025, Defense Minister Rustem Umerov said on October 1 at the second international forum of the Ukrainian defense industry. He had announced that more could be said about Ukraine’s missile program at the end of the year or early next year.
Zelensky had also announced that a new long-range drone was in use. “Our armed forces are now deploying a completely new class of Ukrainian weapons – the Palianytsia long-range missile drone,” Zelensky said. It is said to be a weapon that can fly over long distances like a cruise missile. He added that other long-range drones, including maritime drones, were also operational.
According to Defense Minister Umerov, four billion dollars (3.6 billion euros) have already been invested in the development of Ukraine’s missile industry. “For next year we plan to increase funding. Our priority is the development of drones and long-range weapons, including ballistic missiles,” the minister added. “An important part of this cooperation is the signing of contracts for the production, supply and maintenance of weapons to ensure long-term supplies to the Ukrainian army,” the ministry said in a statement.
In August it became known that Ukraine had successfully tested its self-developed Sapsan missile. It is said to have a range of 700 kilometers. It is unclear whether the missile is now in production and whether Zelensky’s recent announcement about this type of weapon is a new development. Russia had already claimed in March 2023 that it had fired down Sapsan missiles.
In addition to Western weapons, Ukraine currently only has Russian-made SS-21 Scarab missiles. But they only have a range of up to 100 kilometers. The Scarab A missile was developed from 1968 to 1974 and entered service in 1975. The Scarab B was developed between 1984 and 1988 and has been used since 1989.