Ballistic ‘Frankenstein’: Russia converts decommissioned S-400 missiles into strike weapons

Ukrainian intelligence said Russia's new ballistic "Frankenstein" uses a solid-fuel motor from a 48N6DM surface-to-air missile used by the S-400 system, a tail section from the export 48N6E2 surface-to-air missile used by the S-300 PMU-1/2 and S-400 systems, and an RM-48U instrument section made from components of the 9M96 and 48N6E2 missiles.

"The RM-48U is a single-stage missile with a solid-fuel motor that flies along a ballistic trajectory at speeds of Mach 4 to Mach 6 and has an operational range of up to 400 kilometers. The missile uses a 199-kilogram high-explosive fragmentation warhead with preformed fragmentation elements, or cubes," Ukraine's Defense Intelligence said.

Navigation and guidance are provided by an autonomous strapdown inertial navigation system and a satellite navigation system based on Kometa-R12 receivers, which the Russians have this time labeled a "space navigation system," or PKNS, according to Ukrainian intelligence.

Russia has created separate units to use surface-to-air missiles against ground targets: a Special Tactical Missile Group, or STRG, equipped with RM-48U missiles using radio-command guidance, and a Special Operational Missile Group, or SORG, equipped with satellite-guided RM-48U missiles.

"The range of the former, used by the STRG, is limited by the radio horizon and the capabilities of the S-400's illumination and guidance radar. Therefore, in most cases, the enemy uses autonomous RM-48U missiles with satellite navigation as part of the SORG," Ukrainian intelligence said.

The missile's electronic components follow a pattern typical of Russian weapons in terms of the countries where their manufacturers are based, Ukrainian intelligence said. Of 117 components, 95 were from U.S. manufacturers, four from Taiwan, three from Switzerland, and two each from Germany, the Netherlands, Japan and South Korea. Intelligence officials also identified a laser diode manufactured by France's 3SP Technologies.

Ukrainian intelligence warned that experience gained in the war against Ukraine could be used in future conflicts not only by Russia but also by its allies, Iran and North Korea.

On June 3, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russia was capable of producing about 120 ballistic missiles per month. He described that production capacity as "the biggest threat Ukraine is currently facing."

In a July 19 report, analysts at the Institute for the Study of War said Russian forces had launched 107 ballistic missiles and 20 Zircon missiles at Ukraine since the beginning of July 2026, more than Russia produces in a month.

On Sept. 8, Ukrainian intelligence warned that Russia would reach the final stage of testing a new type of ballistic missile this year, with a range of up to 800 kilometers (497 miles).