It arrives in Ukraine: The missile that could change everything on the battlefield

After more than three years of conflict, Ukraine remains heavily dependent on its allies, especially its American allies.

As Donald Trump expresses reluctance to provide further arms to his Ukrainian counterpart, with deliveries frequently delayed and corruption rampant in Ukraine (with reports that American weapons have been diverted before reaching Kiev), Ukrainians are having to use ingenuity and create their own weapons.

After Neptune, the Sapsan

This is how Ukrainians are developing remarkable expertise in drones. It's already well known that Kiev manufactures its own Neptune missiles, Long Neptune in their improved versions. And now, Ukrainians are set to begin production of a short-range ballistic missile, the Sapsan, according to L’Indépendant.

Back in May, the Sapsan was already used on the battlefield "after successfully striking a Russian military target at a distance of nearly 300km," reports Valentyn Badrak, director of the Centre for Army Studies, as cited by The Kyiv Independent.

Specifications

The Sapsan (or "peregrine falcon") significantly outperforms the American ATACMS missile. Top speed? Mach 5.2 compared with Mach 3 for the ATACMS. It can also carry a 480kg warhead, compared with 227kg for the ATACMS, according to the independent Ukrainian newspaper Euromaidan Press.

(MH with Manon Pierre – Source: L’Indépendant – Illustration: ©Unsplash)