Russia fires nuclear-capable intercontinental ballistic missile at Ukraine for first time

Russia fires nuclear-capable intercontinental ballistic missile at Ukraine for first time

Sub : Sci

Sec : Defence

Context: In yet another sign of the escalation of Russia- Ukraine conflict, which has been going on for over 1,000 days, Russia on Thursday fired an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) at Ukraine for the first time.

This is the first time Moscow has used such a missile in the war. The missile was launched at Ukraine’s Dnipro city in the central-east.

Background:

The development comes just two days after Vladimir Putin signed a revised nuclear doctrine that formally lowers the threshold for Moscow’s use of nuclear weapons and warned the US and other NATO allies against allowing Ukraine to use longer-range weapons to hit Russian territory, which has been supplied by the Western countries.

What is an ICBM?

• Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBMs) are strategic weapons designed to deliver nuclear warheads.
• They can also have conventional warheads.
• They are an important part of Russia’s nuclear deterrent.
• The missiles have a range of thousands of kilometres.
• ICBMs reportedly have a range between 6,000 to 9,300 miles, making a target vulnerable.
• The use would serve as a reminder of Russia’s nuclear capability and send a powerful message to the US and other NATO allies.

How does ICBM work?

There are three states: the boost phase, the midcourse phase, and the terminal phase.

• The boost phase begins at launch; midcourse phase begins after the rocket(s) stops firing.
• In the mid-course phase, the missile continues to ascend toward the highest point in its trajectory and then begins to descend toward Earth.
• During the midcourse phase, ICBMs can travel around 24,000 kilometres per hour (15,000 miles per hour).
• The terminal phase is when the detached warhead(s) re enter the Earth’s atmosphere and ends upon impact or detonation.
• During this phase, which can last for less than a minute, strategic warheads can travel at speeds greater than 3,200 kilometres per hour (1,988 miles per hour), states the fact sheet.