Originally posted by Dr. Strangelove
View Post
These that hit Liviv are more likely to be advanced cruise missiles of the KH55-SM type with a range of up to 3000 kms and are believed to have originated from the Caspian Sea on the east side of Georgia. It's a haul from there to Liviv (about 2500 km) but it also protects the Tupolov long range bombers from any engagement with the Ukrainian air defenses.
It's been observed that older versions of Russia's cruise missiles have high failure rates and poor accuracy. From what is known about the KH55 series they are more reliable and accurate. They also fly very low to avoid detection and engagement by air defense systems and Ukraine has been bagging the older versions.
I have no doubt there is signaling going on here from the Kremlin with the firing of these. The KH55s can carry a big conventional war head 200KTs as well as a nuclear war head and it's range indicates that it can reach into countries on NATO's eastern flank fired safely from far away.
Comment