Russia misjudges ATACMS threat, fortifies wrong airbase
The Russians built shelters for aircraft in Kursk, fearing ATACMS attacks. Work on these began in October 2024, a few weeks before the official U.S. approval for ATACMS strikes on Russian territory.
20 November 2024 09:51
The problem for the Russian Federation, however, was that the army was preparing for ATACMS missile strikes in the wrong place. The Ukrainian service Defense Express notes that the Russians initiated the construction of fortified hangars at an airport near Kursk several weeks before the U.S. approval was announced, whereas the Ukrainians struck a completely different location.
Work at the airport several weeks before U.S. approval
Work on shelters at the Chalino airport began in October 2024. At least five hangars were built. In 2022, there were no hangars for military aircraft at this airport, even though before the war with Ukraine, it was a dual-use airport.
Defense Express indicates that the Russian military command expected potential ATACMS attacks to be geographically limited and directed mainly against tactical aviation airports. The relevant authorities secured the airbase near Kursk, but the defending army targeted a different area. Contrary to Russian suspicions, the ATACMS missiles did not strike the Kursk region but the Bryansk region, where no prior fortifications had been prepared.
Delays in shelter construction
However, as reported, the Russians did not fully acknowledge the threat of ATACMS attacks. This is evidenced by the delay in building shelters despite earlier reports of plans to do so.
In July 2024, Russian war correspondents reported on the decision to begin building shelters at tactical aviation airports. Despite this, the process only began a few months later, indicating a lack of urgency in their actions.
ATACMS in Ukraine
One of the biggest challenges posed by the ATACMS missiles is their range of up to 300 kilometres and their ability to hit targets accurately. Their capability to cover this distance in just a few minutes, at speeds reaching Mach 3 (over 3,600 kilometres per hour), makes them extremely difficult to intercept.
Moreover, effective defence systems are lacking to stop these fast ballistic missiles, and their impact radius is measured in hundreds of feet. Such technical parameters make ATACMS not only a tactical tool but also a strategic one, capable of influencing the entire war dynamics.
