Translated with AI
The Sapsan missile system had been in development for many years, but real progress only came during a full-scale war.
Ukraine has successfully tested its own ballistic missile "Sapsan", and now it will be launched into serial production. This was reported in an article for LIGA.net by the director of the Center for Army, Conversion and Disarmament Studies Valentin Badrak.
"The first successful tests of the first ballistic missile took place in July 2024," the expert said.
He noted that ballistic missiles are more powerful than cruise missiles and have a higher speed. For example, the Ukrainian Sapsan reached a speed of 5.2 Machs during tests, or approximately 6,370 km/h. For comparison: the American ATACMS has a speed of approximately 3 Machs, and the Russian Iskander-M – about 6 Machs.
An important advantage of ballistic missiles is their parabolic flight trajectory, which significantly complicates their interception by conventional anti-aircraft missile systems.
"This has been proven in practice even by the old American ATACMS ballistic missiles, which the enemy was unable to intercept," Badrak noted.
In May 2025, the Sapsan was used in combat conditions for the first time, and also successfully, says Badrak. According to him, the missile destroyed a Russian military facility at a distance of about 300 kilometers.
The analyst reported that the Sapsan will now go into serial production, and, as he was assured by the Ministry of Defense, there are no obstacles to this.
The missile's technical characteristics also indicate that it carries a 480 kg warhead. For comparison, the aforementioned ATACMS has a 227 kg warhead in its high-explosive version.
"Therefore, it can be assumed that Ukraine is already on the path to missile buildup, and this is important not only for the present, but also for ensuring the future of the state and nation," the expert concluded.
