The Russians used S-300 and S-400 anti-aircraft missile systems during another massive attack on Ukraine on January 14. In particular, Kyiv was also under their attack.
Defense Express writes about it.
Thus, Defense Express received a photo of the wreckage of the 48Н6DM missiles from the S-400 from its own sources. It should be noted that the Russians have used S-300 missiles several times before, but they were 5V55 missiles, which have a shorter flight range and a smaller warhead.
It is reported that the 48N6DM missile, which is not in service with the Armed Forces, has a larger warhead, and most importantly - a flight range. For 5B55, the range of hitting air targets is up to 75 km, and the weight of the warhead is 133 kg. In 48H6DM - 250 km and 180 kg, respectively.
The launch area for launching 48N6DM missiles from the S-400 is probably the territory of the Belarusian airfield "Zyabrovka", which is located near Gomel, 20 km from the Ukrainian border.
It is noted that the proven launch range of the 48N6DM as a surface-to-surface missile is from 230 km. The affected zone allows not only Kyiv to be targeted from the territory of Belarus, but also such cities as Zhytomyr, Rivne, Lutsk and Lviv. Previously, due to the use of 5V55 missiles by the Russians with a proven launch range on ground targets of 120 km, all these cities were not in the risk zone.
Let us add that the use of anti-aircraft missiles for strikes on the ground involves launching them along a ballistic trajectory. Therefore, their interception requires anti-missile defense systems such as the Patriot PAC3 with MSE kinetic interceptors.
In addition, the 48N6DM rocket has a huge maximum speed of 2.5 km/s. Thus, the 230 km flight takes a few minutes.
It is reported that for the accuracy of the 48N6DM missile strike, it is necessary to have direct radar visibility between the radar and the missile, with a launch range of 230 km, missile control is lost at an altitude of approximately 3 km. Then the missile simply falls in the vicinity of the target according to the inertial navigation system. 48N6DM anti-aircraft missiles are equipped with a "contact detonator" that reacts to passing near an air target. In the event of an impact on a ground target, it can be triggered even at a low altitude or during contact with the surface.
The mass of the 48N6DM rocket and its speed, together with the size of the warhead, allows it to penetrate the walls or roof of a residential building and cause significant destruction. In the case of detonation at a low height - to hit the population with ready-made debris.
It is emphasized that due to such accuracy, it is impossible to talk about choosing a specific object to hit, so the target of attacks can only be the city in general.
