Table of Contents
- 1 Read also in BUSINESS INSIDER
- 2 Russia used new weapons
- 3 The Americans knew about the planned attack
- 4 RS-26 Outland. An ICBM that broke treaties and became an IRBM
- 5 * Considering the potential for dual use in weapons like the RS-26, how can international agreements and treaties effectively address both legitimate defense needs and the risk of destabilizing arms races?
The Ukrainian Air Force Command reported that on November 21, between 5:00 a.m. and 7:00 a.m., Russian troops attacked the city of Dnieper with various types of rockets. The targets were enterprises and critical infrastructure.
From the list presented, the information that draws attention primarily is the use of an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) by the Russian Federation. This is because if this happened, it would be the first time in history that this type of weapon was used in combat.
The main suspect in the whole mess quickly became the RS-26 Rubezh missile, a strategic missile system with an intercontinental ballistic missile based on a wheeled carrier, which is the next development step of the RS-24 Yars system. This is primarily because it is an ICBM that has been known for years that it can be used to hit targets at much shorter distances.
Read also in BUSINESS INSIDER
Russia used new weapons
At first, Moscow did not confirm the reports from Kiev for a long time, and then announced that a completely new system was used in the attack.
In a recording published by the Kremlin, the President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin, announced that the attack was a “combat test” of a new hypersonic weapons system, which he called “Oreshnik”.
— In response to the use of American and British long-range weapons on November 21 this year, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation carried out a combined attack on one of Ukraine’s military-industrial complexes, Putin said.
— During the attack, one of the newest Russian medium-range missile systems was tested in combat conditions. In this case, we are talking about a ballistic missile with a hypersonic warhead without a nuclear payload, he said.
– We believe that we have the right to use our weapons against the military facilities of countries that allow their weapons to be used against our facilities, Putin said in an address to the nation.
Vladimir Putin said the new missile was named Oreshnik by engineers and “there is currently no way to counter such a weapon.” According to the leader, it attacks at a speed of mach 10, or 2-3 km/s.
According to Putin, the conflict in Ukraine has already taken on a “global character” due to the fact that Western countries have agreed to attack them with missiles on Russian territory.
He warned that Russia would respond to the “escalation” decisively and in a proportionate manner.
– It is worth thinking about this for the elites leading the countries that plan to use their military contingents against Russia – he said.
The Americans knew about the planned attack
After many hours of silence, the Pentagon finally spoke out about the attack. Sabrina Singh, deputy spokeswoman for the Pentagon, said that Russia notified the US shortly before the launch of the new “experimental” missile.
– I can confirm that Russia fired an experimental intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) against Ukraine. It was a missile based on the design of the RS-26 Rubezh intercontinental-range ballistic missile (ICBM), she said. Singh.
She added that the US was notified by Russia through nuclear risk reduction channels shortly before the missile launch, although she declined to say when this happened.
At the same time, it confirmed that Washington had informed Ukraine and its allies about the expected attack using an experimental IRBM missile. Singh explained that the missile was “experimental” because it was its first use on the battlefield.
Asked about the differences in Ukraine’s assessment of the missile type – according to which the missile fired at Dnieper had an intercontinental range (ICBM) – Singh said that Kiev had only made a preliminary assessment and that ICBM and IRBM had many common features. The main difference between them is their range. She added that they can carry both nuclear and conventional payloads.
The spokeswoman also referred to Putin’s words that Russia has the right to strike “against the military facilities of countries that allow their weapons to be used against Russian facilities.” She assessed that although America takes these threats seriously, this is not the first similar statement by a Russian leader and will not stop the US from further helping Ukraine.
RS-26 Outland. An ICBM that broke treaties and became an IRBM
RS-26 Rubezh is a strategic missile system with an intercontinental ballistic missile based on a wheeled carrier, which is the next development step of the RS-24 Jars system.
The dimensions of RS-26 are 12 m in length and 1.8 in diameter. The mass of the rocket is to be 36,000. kg, and the mass of the warhead is 800 kg. The missile is powered by solid fuel and its maximum range is estimated at 6,000. km. The basic combat payload is nuclear warheads, but the missile can also be armed with conventional payloads.
The history of the RS-26 Outland begins in 2008. That’s when work on the new weapon began.
In September 2011, the Russians carried out the first test of the new system. The test failed because the missile launched from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome veered off course and crashed only eight kilometers from the launch site.
The second test was conducted less than a year later in March 2012. This time it was a success. The RS-26 Rubież missile flew 5,000 km. 800 km. This means it has been classified as an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM).
Why is it so important? Because of the INF Treaty, which was still in force at that time. Let us recall that it was a treaty on the complete elimination of short- and medium-range missiles. The agreement did not cover intercontinental missiles, i.e. those with a range of over 5,000. 500 km.
However, the RS-26 Rubież missile aroused controversy from the very beginning. Many experts emphasized that its design means it can be used to hit targets well below the 5,000-strong limit. 500 km. This means that the missile should be classified not as an intercontinental ICBM, but as an intermediate-range missile (IRBM), which would be a violation of the provisions of the INF Treaty.
This issue has been repeatedly mentioned, for example, in the reports of the Congressional Research Service, an American research institute that prepares reports and analyzes for members of the US parliament. Most information about this weapon comes from these reports, where the RS-26 Rubezh is mentioned alongside the Iskander-M1 system missiles, known as 9M729, as Russian weapons that clearly violate the provisions of the INF Agreement.
Both systems mentioned were ultimately the main reason for the termination of the agreement, which took place in 2019.
* Considering the potential for dual use in weapons like the RS-26, how can international agreements and treaties effectively address both legitimate defense needs and the risk of destabilizing arms races?
## Open-Ended Discussion Questions About the RS-26 Rubezh Missile
Here are some open-ended questions organized thematically to encourage discussion on the RS-26 Rubezh missile and its implications:
**I. The Missile’s Development and Capabilities**
* The article mentions the RS-26 Rubezh faced significant challenges in its early testing. What are some of the difficulties associated with developing and testing long-range missile technology, and why might early failures be expected?
* Knowing that the RS-26 can be used to hit targets below the 5,500km range, to what extent can a weapon’s “intended use” be separated from its capabilities? Does its potential for dual use complicate the discussion surrounding its deployment?
**II. The INF Treaty and International Agreements**
* What are the core principles behind treaties like the INF Treaty? What are the benefits and drawbacks of such agreements in a complex geopolitical environment?
* The article states the RS-26 was a major factor in the INF Treaty’s termination. Do you feel the concerns about the missile’s range were justified, and could alternative solutions to the dispute have been found?
* How does the case of the RS-26 highlight the challenges of verifying compliance with international arms control treaties?
**III. Global Security Implications**
* What are the broader implications of the development and deployment of intermediate-range missiles like the RS-26 on global security?
* How might other countries respond to Russia’s development of such a weapon, and what risks are associated with an ongoing arms race in this category of weapons?
* What strategies or diplomatic approaches could be explored to mitigate the risks posed by the increasing availability of intermediate-range missiles?
**IV. Transparency and Public Discourse**
* The article cites the Congressional Research Service as a key source of information about the RS-26. How important is transparency and public access to information about military technology in fostering informed debate and decision-making?
* How can complex technical information about weapons systems be effectively communicated to the public in a way that promotes understanding and avoids sensationalism?
By framing the discussion with these open-ended questions, we encourage exploration of various perspectives and delve deeper into the complexities surrounding the RS-26 Rubezh missile and its global impact.
