Russia made headlines when they reportedly launched an inter-continental ballistic missile (ICBM) on Ukraine, marking the first combat use of the weapon since its inception almost six decades ago. Moscow utilized Multiple Independently Targetable Re-entry Vehicles (MIRV) technology to target “critical infrastructure” in Ukraine’s Dnipro, making it the first-ever use of the technology. The ICBM has a range of over 5,500 kilometres and is capable of carrying nuclear, chemical, and biological warheads, as well as conventional warheads.
Videos circulating on social media show the warheads re-entering and targeting infrastructure in Ukraine, although Russia has not officially commented on the launch. The launch comes just after changes to the nuclear doctrine signed by Putin, warning that an attack from a non-nuclear state backed by a nuclear state would be viewed as a joint attack on Russia. The US recently allowed Ukraine to utilize long-range ATACMS missiles to strike deep into Russia.
The ICBM launched by Russia, called the RS-26 Rubezh, is equipped with MIRV technology and was successfully tested for the first time in 2012. The missile follows a parabolic trajectory with boost, mid-course, and terminal stages. MIRV technology allows multiple targets located at different locations to be engaged from the same missile with several warheads.
India also made significant progress in this field by successfully conducting the first flight test of MIRV technology with the Agni-5 Intercontinental Ballistic Missile this year. The successful test highlighted India’s capabilities and put them on the elite list of nations with this technology.
Overall, the use of ICBMs and MIRV technology by Russia in Ukraine marks a significant development in global military capabilities and highlights the growing importance of advanced missile technology in modern warfare.
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