Russian President Vladimir Putin on June 23 confirmed that serial manufacturing of the Oreshinik intermediate vary ballistic missile is starting, and that the missile has been assessed to have carried out nicely when fight examined. “Quantity manufacturing of the most recent intermediate-range missile system Oreshnik, which has proved itself very nicely in fight situations, is being began,” he said, offering an replace on the extremely secretive weapons program. The missile’s service entry marks a turning level for the capabilities of Russia’s ballistic missile forces, which have been beforehand comprised solely of brief ranged Iskander-M methods, and intercontinental vary methods such because the Sarmat. This left little functionality for launching tactical typical or nuclear strikes on nearer targets, similar to American army services on Guam or in the UK, or personnel concentrations throughout the European continent. The Oreshinik is estimated to have a 4000km vary, and carries a number of independently re-targetable warheads with hypersonic reentry automobiles. These automobiles can carry both nuclear or typical warheads.
Russia first fired the Oreshnik in fight on November 21 towards Ukrainian targets, with the missile class having beforehand been unknown to the world. Whereas making ready to operationalise the missile class at scale, the nation has additionally procured North Korean KN-23B and Pukkuksong-2 ballistic missiles, which give engagement ranges of 800km and 2500km respectively, bridging the hole between the 500km Iskander-M system and the brand new indigenous intermediate vary missile class. The Oreshnik’s mixture of vary, precision, and superior penetrative capabilities have raised vital considerations throughout a lot of the Western world. Shortly after its unveiling and first use in fight, Russian Ambassador to the UK Andrey Kelin claimed it had had a major influence on British coverage towards Moscow, forcingLondon to take a extra cautious strategy in direction of supporting Ukrainian deep strikes towards Russian targets. Alongside the Russian Armed Forces, it has been confirmed that the missile methods can even be equipped to the Belarusian Armed Forces. Missiles with typical warheads are anticipated to be positioned absolutely beneath Belarusian management, whereas these with nuclear warheads will likley require the switch of their closing stage automobiles from Russian management beneath the phrases of the 2 international locations’ nuclear sharing settlement.
On November 21, 2024, the Major Intelligence Directorate of the Ukrainian Defence Ministry publicised an intelligence evaluation on Russian trade’s manufacturing capability estimating that the nation would to have the ability to produce as much as 25 Oreshnik missiles month-to-month, which equates to manufacturing of 300 missiles per yr. On Might 29 confirmed Secretary of the Russian Safety Council Alexander Volfovich confirmed that Oreshnik missiles could be deployed in Belarus earlier than the top of 2025, indicating that the missiles are anticipated to be extra out there for frontline deployments within the subsequent six months. It stays unsure, nevertheless, whether or not transferring the missile class into manufacturing rapidly might have hindered Russian trade’s potential to proceed to supply new intercontinental vary ballistic missiles, with which the Oreshnik shares most of the similar industrial inputs. It additionally stays unsure whether or not the entire cell launch automobiles for the Oreshnik will probably be produced in Belarus, or whether or not solely these automobiles being procured by the Belarusian Armed Forces will use domestically constructed automobiles.
