Description

Disclaimer: Copyright infringement not intended.

Context

In April 2025 the Russian Ministry of Defence officially acknowledged the threat posed by Ukraine’s newly developed short-range ballistic missile, the Sapsan.

The Sapsan missile enhances Ukraine's long-range strike capability amid its ongoing conflict with Russia representing a significant technological leap.

About Sapsan Missile

Feature	Details
Other Names	Hrim-2 (Ukrainian name), Grom-2 (export variant)
Type	Tactical Ballistic Missile System
Origin	Ukraine
Purpose	Combines features of a tactical missile system and a multiple rocket launcher
Range (Export version)	50 km to 280 km
Range (Ukrainian Armed Forces version)	Up to 700 km
Warhead	480 kg payload; available in unitary and cluster configurations
Mobility	Mounted on a 10-wheeled Transporter-Erector-Launcher (TEL) carrying two missiles
Launch Capability	Capable of launching both ballistic and cruise missiles
Guidance and Navigation	Inertial navigation with radar-based and optoelectronic guidance systems
Key Feature	Aero-ballistic trajectory enabling evasion of air defense systems like S-300, S-400
Comparable System	Russian 9K720 Iskander

Analysis

With a 700 km range Sapsan allows Ukraine to target deep inside enemy territory including critical logistics hubs and military bases.

Its aero-ballistic flight path reduces interception chances posing challenges to sophisticated Russian defense systems.

Ability to fire both ballistic and cruise missiles adds flexibility — useful for different tactical scenarios like coastal defense or deep strikes.

Emergence of Sapsan strengthens Ukraine’s deterrence posture and represents a shift in regional military balance. It may trigger further missile defense upgrades by Russia and reshape strategic calculations.

Sapsan vs Iskander

Parameter	Sapsan (Ukraine)	Iskander (Russia)
Type	Tactical ballistic missile	Tactical ballistic missile
Range	Up to 700 km (Ukrainian version)	Around 500 km
Mobility	10-wheeled TEL with 2 missiles	8-wheeled TEL with 2 missiles
Guidance	Inertial, radar, optoelectronic	Inertial, GLONASS (Russian GPS)
Air Defense Evasion	Aero-ballistic	Aero-ballistic
Multi-role Capability	Ballistic + Cruise missiles	Primarily ballistic

Sources: EURASIANTIMES

PRACTICE QUESTION

Q. Which of the following statements about the Sapsan missile is correct?

It is capable of launching both ballistic and cruise missiles.
It uses inertial navigation integrated with radar and optoelectronic guidance systems.
It is a submarine-launched missile system.

Select the correct answer:
a) 1 and 2 only
b) 2 and 3 only
c) 1 and 3 only
d) 1, 2 and 3

Answer: a

Explanation:

Statement 1 is correct. The Sapsan system is designed to be versatile meaning it can launch both types of missiles ballistic (high-speed, high-arc trajectories) and cruise (low-altitude, guided flight). This allows it to perform diverse roles from land attacks to air defense support.

Statement 2 is correct. Sapsan's onboard control system primarily uses inertial navigation (self-contained system relying on accelerometers and gyroscopes). To improve targeting precision, it is integrated with radar-based (active tracking) and optoelectronic components (like infrared and visual tracking). This improves resistance to electronic jamming and GPS denial.

Statement 3 is incorrect. Sapsan is NOT designed for submarine launches. It is a land-based system, mounted on a 10-wheeled Transporter-Erector-Launcher. There is no underwater or naval launch variant known for Sapsan.