Iranian missile deliveries may boost Russian firepower and threats

Jewhen Dykyj, former commander of the Ukrainian Aidar Battalion, spoke in an interview with Julia Borysko from the "Zhovti Kedi" channel on YouTube about the current state of the Russian Federation's arsenal. The military figure discussed the number of missiles and drones Russia is currently producing.

Dykyj mentioned in the interview on the "Zhowti Kedi" channel how the delivery of ballistic missiles from Iran to Russia would affect strikes towards Ukraine. Recall, it was recently confirmed that Tehran has begun deliveries of missiles with a range of over 100 kilometres – this was reported by the American newspaper "The Wall Street Journal," and shortly thereafter confirmed by an Iranian official.

– If Iran provides assistance, depending on how many weapons they deliver, the shelling will increase – Dykyj explains. He adds that he trusts Western intelligence and believes Iran is handing over only hundreds, not thousands of missiles. – No one knows the exact number, but it is definitely not even a thousand. It's a few hundred missiles – he adds.

In the interview on the "Zhowti Kedi" channel, Dykyj also discussed the current production of missiles in the Russian Federation. He emphasised that "missile production in Russia has reached its upper limit." Julia Borysko's interlocutor notes that last year, the Russians were doing well, but they can no longer grow.

He enumerates that currently the Russians are producing around 10-12 missiles of the Iskander and Kinzhal types, and about 35 cruise missiles per month besides these. In the context of the latter, Dykyj does not specify a particular model, but it's most likely largely the popular Kh-101, which Russia continues to use to attack Ukraine.

Additionally, Dykyj described how many Shahed-type drones he believes are being produced in Russia. There are certainly at least 300 units, possibly a bit more. Furthermore, the Russians still have unloaded S-200 and S-300 missiles in storage, but stocks of other missiles virtually do not exist because they launched everything in 2022, thinking the war would end quickly.

– Now, the Russians can afford to launch exactly as many missiles as they produce. That's why there are long breaks between attacks. Before the three-day strike, they conserved ammunition for two months. In two months, their factories produce one powerful missile campaign – Dykyj explained. The expert is convinced that if Russia does not receive many missiles from Iran, the aggressor will carry out mass shelling of Ukraine in intervals – once every 1.5-2 months, but not more frequently. In the interim, they will strike the defenders' country with Shahed drones.

The Kh-47M2 Kinzhal and Iskander missiles are among the most technologically advanced weapons in the Russian Federation's arsenal. Their specifications are extremely impressive, and their ability to perform complex manoeuvres makes them difficult to shoot down.

The Kh-47M2 Kinzhal is a missile with a length of approximately 7 metres, a diameter of 1 metre, and a mass of up to 4,500 kilogrammes. This missile can reach speeds of up to Mach 10, although more realistic estimates suggest speeds of around Mach 8, or approximately 9,800 kilometres per hour. The biggest advantage of the Kh-47M2 Kinzhal, however, is its ability to perform complex manoeuvres during flight, which makes it much harder to intercept. The ability to evade threats at every stage of its flight makes it one of the most mobile hypersonic weapons.

Although the exact specifications of the Kh-47M2 Kinzhal's guidance systems remain secret, it is known that the missile is equipped with advanced technologies enabling it to hit its designated target precisely. The combination of speed and manoeuvrability significantly increases the effectiveness of this weapon.

Compared to the Kinzhal, the Iskander missile also features impressive technical specifications. It is a missile with a length of about 7 metres, a diameter of 1 metre, and a mass of 3,800 kilogrammes. Iskander missiles are capable of carrying conventional, cluster, and nuclear warheads. They reach speeds of around Mach 7 (approximately 8,300 kilometres per hour) and have a range of up to 500 kilometres. Thanks to advanced guidance systems, the Iskander is considered one of the most precise and dangerous weapons in Russia's arsenal.