On 27 August, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced the successful first test of the new Ukrainian ballistic missile. However, he did not reveal many details about it. His advisor, Mykhailo Podolyak, later stated in an interview that it would have a range of 600-700 kilometres.

According to the Defence Express service, the missile will enable the attack of “interesting objects” on Russian territory. Its range will include Moscow and the strategic Russian military aviation base Engels near Saratov, where Tu-95 and Tu-160 bombers are stationed.

Ukraine’s new ballistic missile – Grom-2

WP Tech journalist Przemysław Juraszek reported that the new Grom-2 ballistic missile is the equivalent of the Russian Iskander-M. Ukrainians have been working on this missile for about two decades, and its first test launch took place in 2018. Special launchers can carry grom-2 missiles, and their massive warheads ensure high effectiveness even if they miss the target by dozens of metres.

During tests conducted in 2023, Ukrainians successfully launched the Grom-2 missile. It is possible that the same rocket was used to strike the Russian airbase Saki in Crimea in 2022. The Ukrainian army is still working on improving this weapon, especially in the context of GPS signal jamming, which can complicate precise missile guidance.

Grom-2 is expected to be a significant element of the Ukrainian arsenal in long-term armed conflicts. The missile’s successful test is also crucial for the Ukrainian defence industry, which operates in war.