Russia Is Firing S-400 Target Missiles at Ukraine to Save Its Iskanders
A repurposed air-defense training missile made up more than half of Russia's confirmed ballistic strikes on Ukraine this summer, drawing on scarce Patriot interceptors while Moscow holds its Iskanders for winter.
A repurposed air-defense training missile made up more than half of Russia's confirmed ballistic strikes on Ukraine this summer, drawing on scarce Patriot interceptors while Moscow holds its Iskanders for winter.
Russia's most-fired ballistic missile against Ukraine this summer was built as target practice for its own air-defense crews. The RM-48U accounted for 87 of 158 confirmed ballistic and hypersonic strikes in July and 36 of 70 in the first eight days of August, according to Ukrainian General Prosecutor's Office data obtained by Reuters. Reuters could not independently verify the figures.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the RM-48U?
A Russian target missile fired from S-400 air-defense systems and rebuilt for ground attack. Ukraine's HUR says it is a single-stage, solid-fuel round with a range of up to 400 km, a speed of Mach 4 to 6 and a 199 kg fragmentation warhead.
How often has Russia used it against Ukraine?
Ukrainian prosecutor's office data seen by Reuters attributes 87 of 158 confirmed ballistic and hypersonic strikes in July and 36 of 70 in the first eight days of August to the RM-48U. Reuters could not independently verify the data.
Why use a training missile instead of the Iskander?
RUSI's Sidharth Kaushal told Reuters it lets Russia strike lower-value targets and drain Ukrainian interceptors while conserving Iskanders, KN-23s and Zircons for a winter campaign.
How accurate is it?
Ukrainian prosecutors say RM-48Us miss their intended targets by about 300 meters on average and scatter fragments over a wide area.
How many will Russia build?
HUR says Russia plans to produce 480 RM-48Us in 2026, up from about 200 in 2025.
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Marcus Schuler
Marcus Schuler edits BattlePolicy, a daily defense-technology brief connecting the companies and capabilities behind modern war to the contest among Europe, the US, Russia, and China.