Comments on: Because of Russian violations, U.S. withdraws from nuclear arms treaty

By: Col Beausabre

Col Beausabre — Fri, 01 Feb 2019 20:55:20 +0000

Actually, the Iskander is the 9K720 missile, whose 30 to 250 mile range falls outside the INF parameters. The 9M729 may be derived from the other missile – it appears to use the same TEL. – but the US claims its range capability takes it into the INF category. If this is true, the 9K720 TEL’s would be illegal as there is no way to tell them from the 9M729 vehicles and, in theory, Russia would have to scrap them, leaving the Iskander without a launcher. Fat chance. In terms of a US response, we scrapped our Lance (75 miles) and Pershing (480 miles) ballistic missiles and Gryphon (1600 mile) cruise missiles as well as the 155mm and 8 inch nuclear artillery rounds. The only thing left in the US arsenal except for the ICBM’s and SLBM’s are free-fall bombs dropped from aircraft – a risky proposition in light of modern air defenses.

By: pzatchok

pzatchok — Fri, 01 Feb 2019 18:58:16 +0000

I don’t believe anything the Russians say.

Just look at their space program. if their military manufacturing system is even close they have a very high chance of having hundreds of nonfunctional missiles in their inventory.

I trust nothing of theirs more technical than a Tank or RPG.

By: David

David — Fri, 01 Feb 2019 18:22:53 +0000

The real complaint about violating the treaty has been focused on the 9M729 Iskander missiles which started being tested and in 2014 and deployed in 2017. Russia claims that these ground-launched cruise missiles have a range of less than 500km and are thus INF compliant, but I don’t think anyone believes that claim, our official stance is that it’s capable of range that violates the treaty limits.

By: pzatchok

pzatchok — Fri, 01 Feb 2019 17:53:34 +0000

Nothing goes faster than a laser.

They obviously developed this because they truly believe that their enemies were able to defeat their other weapons.

It looks like they added their S-400 high speed maneuvering system to a high speed re-entry vehicle.

The Russians are acting like this thing is almost as maneuverable as a plane. It dodges around a bit but never changes its trajectory much. It can’t make a true turn in the air. At that speed any control surfaces are useless. Wings and fins do nothing.
If it did make true turns it would spend too much time in the air to a make a very good attack vehicle.