Russia’s Oreshnik “hypersonic” missile

Russia appears set to target “decision-making centres” in Kyiv with its Oreshnik hypersonic missile, which it claims is unstoppable


ORESHNIK (“HAZEL TREE”) IRBM
Intermediate-Range Ballistic Missile 

Warheads: Six, each with six submunitions
Velocity: 3.7km/s (Mach 11) 
Range: 3,000-5,500km 
Accuracy: 50-200m

IRBMs all have speeds up to 7km/s

Designed to carry nuclear payload.
Intermediate Range Nuclear Forces Treaty – abandoned by Russia and U.S. in 2019 – prohibited ground-launched missiles with ranges of 500-5,500km

First stage

Second stage 

MIRV: Multiple Independently-targetable Vehicle

Gas thrusters: In-flight manoeuvrability to evade interception 
Interceptors such as U.S. SM-3 Block 2A or Israeli Arrow 3 are designed to counter IRBMs

Six warheads – each carrying six submunitions – with multiple targets, dropped independently


Kyiv
UKRAINE

Dnipro
First used Nov 21

Distance 1,000km
RUSSIA

Kapustin Yar
Launch site

ASTRAKHAN
300km 185 miles


Mobile launcher: Could be launched out of range of Ukrainian missiles and drones


Sources: RUSI, Reuters
Picture: Getty Images
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