The missile forms part of the Bora-M complex, which was developed from Russia’s 9M723 Iskander-M system. Work on the new weapon began after the United States withdrew from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty in 2019, the agency said.
The 9M723-2 has a reported range of 550 kilometres, compared with 390 kilometres for the standard 9M723-1. Ukrainian intelligence attributed the increase to next-generation solid fuel and a reduction in warhead weight from 450 kilograms to 300 kilograms.
The missile reportedly reaches speeds of between 2,700 and 3,100 metres per second during powered flight. It can climb to an altitude of 130 kilometres before entering a high-speed descent towards its target.
Aerodynamic and gas-dynamic controls allow the 9M723-2 to manoeuvre outside the atmosphere and during its descent through denser air. The missile can perform manoeuvres under loads of between 25g and 30g, while some internal components experience forces of up to 230g, according to the agency.
Ukrainian intelligence described the missile as practically impossible for anti-ballistic missiles to intercept because of its speed and manoeuvrability. That assessment has not been independently verified.
The 9M723-2 can carry several payload types, including cluster and high-explosive fragmentation warheads. Russia has also modified the system’s mobile launcher, although it continues to carry two missiles.
Of the 140 internal components identified by Ukrainian analysts, only 25 per cent were manufactured directly by Russian plants, the agency said. It traced 63 components to the United States and the remainder to entities in Switzerland, Germany, Taiwan, China and Belarus.
Foreign-made microprocessors and memory chips are central to the missile’s autonomous guidance system, according to Ukrainian intelligence. These components are also used in modern guidance modules designed to resist electronic-warfare interference.
