Ballistic experts were stumped after Russia deployed a mystery munition in Ukraine. The munitions are decoys meant to trick air-defense radars and heat-seeking missiles.
According to an American intelligence official, the devices are each about a foot long, shaped like a dart and white with an orange tail.
They are released by the Iskander-M short-range ballistic missiles that Russia is firing from mobile launchers across the border, the official said, when the missile senses that it has been targeted by air defense systems.
Each is packed with electronics and produces radio signals to jam or spoof enemy radars attempting to locate the Iskander-M, and contains a heat source to attract incoming missiles.
The official, who was not authorized to speak publicly about intelligence matters, described the devices on the condition of anonymity.
This is an unidentified munition currently being found in Ukraine. At the moment an official identification has not been made. Any additional images, technical information or identification is very much appreciated: https://t.co/dtWwdIJaV3 pic.twitter.com/p2lWFeljYd
— CAT-UXO (@CAT_UXO) March 5, 2022
The Drive reported:
An automotive website with extensive coverage of military matters, PENAIDS was originally deployed on long-range missiles carrying nuclear warheads. They were created in response to the development of anti-missile defense systems.
The idea is to overwhelm enemy air defenses with multiple potential threats, so the real devices have better odds of striking their targets.
These so-called short-range weapons still have a range of 310 miles, according to The Drive.
According to the Times, the Russian innovation has been to add the decoys to their short-range Iskander-M missiles, which noted, “The incorporation of the devices into weapons like the Iskander-M that have conventional warheads has not been previously documented in military arsenals.”
The outlet added that the decoys launch when the Iskander-M detects it has been targeted by air defense systems.
Iskander-Ms were already hard to defend against, as the highly elusive missiles fly at a low trajectory. The PENAIDS add multiple ways for them to counter antimissile systems.
The Daily Mail also reported:
Michael Duitsman, from the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies (CNS), said: ‘Generally speaking, penetration aids (PENAIDs) can work three different ways: physically, as a decoy, using its radar return; thermally, using a flare to spoof heat-seeking weapons, and electronically, spoofing or jamming radars and electronics.
‘The Iskander-M PENAID does all three.
- ‘The body’s radar return adds clutter around the missile.
- ‘The end of the PENAID has a flare to create a strong thermal signature.
- ‘The interior of the PENAID has a radio transmitter to jam or spoof radars.
The Iskander can release PENAIDS from six ports in the base of the missile. You can see the ports in this image — they are the big circles around the base on this training dummy. pic.twitter.com/uie74C6Zbe
— Dr. Jeffrey Lewis (@ArmsControlWonk) March 15, 2022
The Western Journal further noted:
Lewis told the Times that Russia has now given away a secret of its military abilities because the Russian military has to know that the missiles will be studied by Western experts to devise effective countermeasures.
We must hope so…
Ukraine has not been effective in countering the ballistic missiles. It is unknown how much of that failure is due to the use of PENAIDs.
Despite pressure from many nations, Russian President Vladimir Putin has persisted with the invasion. The response from the West has been inconsistent at best. As the combat continues, Russia will give away more of its secret abilities and technology. We must learn to counter them before it’s too late.
Sources: WesternJournal, The New York Times, Daily Mail, The Drive
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