How many ATACMS missiles are needed for a powerful strike? An expert's assessment

Following the U.S. decision to allow Ukraine to strike Russian targets with ATACMS missiles, incidents of explosions in the aggressor country have increased.

Military-political analyst Oleksandr Kovalenko explained in a comment to Kyiv 24 how many ATACMS missiles need to be launched at a Russian target to ensure a successful hit.

"Everything depends on the target. It can be said that 5–6 missiles are enough. However, for some targets, this might be excessively, while for others, it might be insufficient," the expert stated.

He emphasizes that multiple factors influence this:

• Air defense coverage;

• Distance from Ukraine’s border;

• How long the missile needs to fly within enemy airspace.

"For instance, if the missile’s flight path intersects with zones defended by "Pantsir-S1" or "Tor-M2"systems, the likelihood of interception is low. However, if it encounters S-400 battery zones, the probability of being shot down increases. In such cases, a greater number of missiles would be required. And, of course, the size and purpose of the target are crucial," Kovalenko explained.

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