Reports indicate that on July 31, Russian forces reportedly launched nine S8000 Banderol missiles targeting the city of Odesa. Ukrainian sources have stated that all nine of these missiles were successfully intercepted over the Black Sea. The analysis of the launch mechanism has focused on the primary known carrier for these missiles, the Russian medium-altitude reconnaissance and attack drone, designated “Orion” (also known as “Inokhodec”).
Current operational understanding suggests that a single “Orion” drone is capable of carrying only one S8000 missile. Consequently, launching nine missiles simultaneously would necessitate the presence of nine “Orion” drones airborne at the same time. Experts suggest this scenario is highly improbable, particularly considering the reportedly limited inventory of such drones within the Russian military.
An alternative potential launch platform identified is the attack helicopter, the “Mi-28,” which theoretically possesses the capacity to carry multiple Banderol missiles. However, confirmation regarding the use of this platform for such an operation remains unsubstantiated. In summary, while the launch of nine missiles was reported, the feasibility of the operation hinges on the deployment of either multiple “Orion” drones or the utilization of a different, unconfirmed platform.
These technical considerations are central to understanding the scope and execution of the reported strike by Russian forces.
Topics: #russian #missiles #nine
