Instead of less than 500 km as when the INF Treaty was in effect, the US has just announced plans to increase the range for missiles under the PrSM program to 1,600 km.
The Breaking Defense page cites the US Department of Defense, currently the agency is preparing for a plan to increase the range of weapons under the Precision Strike Missile (PrSM) program to more than three times, or from the current 500km to 1600. kilometer.
To increase the range, the PrSM missile will be equipped with a new generation engine system, upgrading the navigation system without increasing the size of the missile.
US PrSM system.
The new propulsion system enables the missile to be launched from the foundation of existing US HIMARS jet artillery systems.
“When the INF Treaty is no longer in effect and medium-range missiles are no longer bound by range, we can increase the range of our weapons to complete missions,” the source said.
The Breaking Defense expert said that although the PrSM has increased its range by more than 3 times, this weapon still cannot compare with the Russian 9M729 missile – a weapon accused by the US of violating the INF while the treaty is in effect. .
The Russian 9M729 missile known as the SSC-8 has a maximum range of 5,500km. With such a range and complicated flight journey, Russia’s 9M729 missile is considered a threat to the US and to its European allies.
General John Hyten, of the US Strategic Command, admitted similarly in a testimony before Congress, saying that the new SSC-8 missile that Russia has deployed can defeat defense shields. US and European allies, especially when launched in large numbers.
It is known that 9M729 was developed and tested by Russia for many years, based on the missile version 9M728. The 9M729 is a ground-based version of the Kalibr-NK long-range ocean-based cruise missile complex, so it carries all of the basic tactical features of this missile.
9M729 is equipped with control and navigation system based on inertia with Doppler sensor that adjusts the attack angle according to the Glonass satellite navigation system and GPS. In the final stage, the self-guided missile radar will be activated, automatically finding and rushing to attack the target with a warhead weighing up to 450kg.
The missile is launched in a vertical position with the help of a solid fuel engine that increases the thrust after launch. The propeller-propeller jet engine then sends the missile thousands of kilometers to the target at subsonic flight speeds.
In terms of design, the 9M729 is built on a conventional aerodynamic principle with the wings folded in the body while moving. 9M729 can easily overcome enemy air defenses with complex flight journeys with many turns at very low altitudes.
The only difference that helps 9M729 assert its power compared to the Kalibr-NK version installed on the warships is the range. If Kalibr-NK has a maximum range of about 2,500 km, 9M729 can attack targets at distances of up to 5,400 km.
In particular, according to US intelligence sources, 9M729 is also developed by Russia with the ability to carry nuclear warheads. And this is one of the reasons that the US and its European allies are feverish with the 9M729 missile.
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