Even as doubts persist regarding the operational effectiveness of Russia's intermediate-range ballistic missile Oreshnik, another analyst came to the missile's defence, stressing why it cannot be intercepted.
A few days ago, Theodore Postol, a US missile technology expert and retired MIT Professor Emeritus of Science, Technology, and National Security Policy, had echoed the claims of Russian President Vladimir Putin who had said there are currently no ways of counteracting Oreshnik.
Now, Igor Korotchenko, a military analyst and editor-in-chief of National Defense magazine, made a similar claim saying the launch of Oreshnik is sudden and catches the enemy by surprise as it is undetectable for spy satellites.
His remarks come a few days after Putin challenged the West to a missile "duel" with Oreshnik, saying, "Let them choose a target, say, in Kiev, and amass their air and missile defense systems there, while we will launch an Oreshnik missile at the target. We will see what happens."
Korotchenko told news agency TASS, "A distinctive feature of the medium-range missile system Oreshnik is, firstly, a very short boost phase - the moment of launch, when the missile is just gaining velocity and remains most vulnerable to the impact of various means of interception."
ALSO READ: Is Oreshnik the end of missile defence as we know it?
He said the Oreshnik, which had high mobility, is launched with a mobile ground missile system, and that "there is no chance for satellite reconnaissance to identify its location at any given moment, provided a set of essential secrecy and camouflage measures are taken."
Each of the combat units of the missile can carry out the strike independently. Besides, Oreshnik can also perform an anti-missile maneuver.
"Each warhead is equipped with its own propulsion system, which leaves no chance for interception means - such as the US strategic missile defense system, which could theoretically try to intercept Oreshnik - to calculate the point of interception and neutralize the warhead. This medium-range system - as Vladimir Putin has said, has a range of operation of 5,500 kilometers: its kill zone will spread first and foremost to NATO’s member- countries in Europe," Korotchenko was quoted as saying.