Jamming doesn’t stop Russia hitting bridges. A Ukrainian expert points to the Iskander’s last-second radar scan
Navigation is jammed nationwide during air-raid alerts, and an inertial system alone won’t put an Iskander within a meter of its target, the expert wrote.
Russian Iskander-M ballistic missiles can still penetrate bridges even when their onboard navigation systems are jammed, according to Ukrainian radio-technology expert Serhii "Flash" Beskrestnov. He stated this on November 9. While Ukraine's military intelligence database lists the seekers used by the Iskander missiles, it does not detail their performance under jamming conditions.
Since October 1, Russia has been launching attacks against Kyiv's Dnipro river crossings, the first such strikes since the full-scale invasion commenced. Jamming is a defensive measure against guided weapons for Ukraine. However, if the missiles cannot be diverted, bridges will need to rely on interceptor systems and repairs, while backup crossings continue to be constructed.
The last moments of the missile's flight are particularly challenging due to suppressed navigation over the entire country during air-raid alerts. Beskrestnov notes that this makes it difficult for an Iskander missile to strike within a meter of its intended target, adding that an inertial system alone would not provide the necessary accuracy.
Russia aims to achieve hits with these missiles. The expert explained that Iskander-Ms are equipped with optical homing heads or more sophisticated radar-guided ones due to the critical importance of accuracy. As the warhead descends, the radar scans the terrain for several seconds and sends a correction to the missile's guidance system.
Beskrestnov found this information in a Ukrainian database that catalogs components used in Russian weapons. The database lists the 9E436 optical correlation homing head for the 9M723 Iskander-M, manufactured by Russia's TsNIIAG and NII Televideniya, as well as the 9B918 active radar homing head, produced by Radar MMS. Russian drones initiated attacks on Kyiv's Southern Bridge on October 1, and the assaults continued the following day.
Later, on October 27, a ballistic missile attack damaged the Southern Bridge. Mayor Vitali Klitschko announced that the bridge's traffic was closed, and metro trains between Osokorky and Chervonyi Khutir stations were halted. On November 7, six ballistic missiles targeted the Northern Bridge, with four of them striking it. Zelenskyy reported that traffic was closed in both directions.
On November 30, Infrastructure and Recovery Minister Mykola Kalashnyk stated that Ukraine plans to build 21 alternative river crossings, including the Dnipro, with the first bridge set to be completed in early 2027. Bridges have been targeted from both directions. In June, Ukraine struck the Chonhar bridge in occupied Crimea, leaving a Russian brigade waiting for fuel.
Recently, drones have closed the bridge, and Russia is replacing its missiles as rapidly as they are fired, according to Ukrainian intelligence. Ukrainian intelligence also indicates that the country's drone order this year surpasses 100,000. However, the new Patriot deal is not expected to resolve Ukraine's most significant air defense challenge.
Written by urgent.news from Euromaidan Press's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
