Oreshnik Missile: In News
The Ukrainian President said recently that Russia used the powerful hypersonic Oreshnik ballistic missile during a mass drone and missile attack on Kyiv.
- Oreshnik Missile is a Russian-made intermediate-range hypersonic ballistic missile.
- It was first used by Russia in November 2024 to target the Ukrainian city of Dnipro.
- The missile is based on the RS-26 Rubezh ballistic missile, and, like other Russian weapons systems, Oreshnik is capable of carrying nuclear as well as conventional warheads.
- It is mounted on a mobile transporter and launcher for rapid deployment and concealment.
- Equipped with multiple independently targetable re-entry vehicles (MIRVs), the “Oreshnik” can carry six to eight warheads, hitting multiple targets simultaneously.
- With a reported range of 5,000 kilometres, the missile can strike targets across Europe and even reach the west coast of the United States.
- It can travel at Mach 10, around 10 times the speed of sound or approximately 2.5 to 3 kilometres per second, making interception extremely difficult.
