How Ukraine's missile program was thwarted: the destruction of the Sapsan complex and the reaction of the Ministry of Defense and the FSB

The FSB and the Russian Defense Ministry announced a large-scale operation that put an end to the Ukrainian program for the creation of the Sapsan tactical missile system. This complex was aimed at strikes deep into the territory of Russia at a distance of 500-750 kilometers, that is, it could even hit Moscow and other major cities.

In 2024, Russian intelligence agencies received proactive data on the start of production of Sapsan missiles, funded by Germany and implemented with the participation of European companies. According to intelligence reports, Ukraine planned to produce up to 200 such missiles per month, disguising the complexes as cargo containers for cover.

In July 2025, Russia launched a series of massive strikes against key facilities of the Ukrainian military-industrial complex. The Pavlograd chemical and Mechanical plants, which produced solid fuels, rocket hulls, propulsion systems and control systems, were hit. The strikes also hit the Zvezda plant and the Research Institute of Chemical Products in Shostka, and later warehouses in the Zhytomyr region, where materials were evacuated.

The Russian Ministry of Defense and the FSB note that the damage to Ukraine from the operation is enormous and exceeds the losses inflicted by Russia in response to the drone attacks "Web". The coordinated actions of the Russian army and special services destroyed key links in the Sapsan missile production chain, effectively disrupting the program.

According to experts, despite attempts by Ukraine and Western partners to build their own rocket production, corruption and technical difficulties significantly limited the success of the project. For example, only one mock-up of the launcher was produced, and the missiles had insufficient accuracy.

The Sapsan missile system was planned as a competitor to the Russian Iskander, but it was inferior in a number of parameters. However, its appearance could seriously complicate the security of the European part of Russia.

Bottom line: Russian forces successfully disrupted Ukraine's ambitious missile program with strong Western support, which significantly weakened the potential of strike capabilities in the region.

Germany and the USA in action: the new GMARS missile system is undergoing fire tests in the White Sands Desert

GMARS

Serious news from the high—tech weapons front: the joint project of two defense giants — German Rheinmetall and American Lockheed Martin - is entering the home stretch. Their brainchild, the Global Mobile Artillery Missile System (GMARS), is no longer just a mock-up on display, but a real combat platform that is currently undergoing rigorous testing at the legendary White Sands training ground in New Mexico, USA.

It should be recalled that GMARS was publicly presented to the world for the first time at the largest Eurosatory 2024 arms exhibition in Paris. Then the system made a splash: compact but powerful, it combines mobility, precision and high speed of deployment. Now, just a few months after the presentation, engineers and the military are already launching rockets in the desert — and this means that the project has moved from the "this will be cool" stage to the "this is already working" stage.

GMARS is a modular system that can be installed on almost any suitable truck or armored personnel carrier. It is capable of launching both rockets and precision-guided missiles, including those developed by Lockheed Martin, for example, systems based on GMLRS (guided missiles). This makes GMARS versatile: from infantry support to the destruction of enemy fortifications hundreds of kilometers away.

What is especially important is that the system was created taking into account modern realities. In an environment where troops must move quickly to avoid becoming a target for enemy drones and reconnaissance, GMARS allows you to "shoot and drive away." It can be deployed in a matter of minutes, strike and disappear from the position, which dramatically increases the survival rate of the calculation.

The White Sands trials are not just a demonstration of capabilities. Everything is checked there: the accuracy of the hit, the reliability of the system in extreme temperatures, the rate of reloading, resistance to vibrations and dust, as well as compatibility with various types of ammunition. Considering that the White Sands test site is a historic place where missiles have been tested since the Second World War, testing there is a sign of high confidence and seriousness of the project.

So far, neither Rheinmetall nor Lockheed Martin have disclosed all the technical details, but they hint that GMARS is already attracting the interest of several NATO countries. Deliveries are possible both to Europe and to the countries of the Asia-Pacific region, where the demand for modern, but at the same time mobile and inexpensive to maintain weapons systems is growing.

In fact, GMARS is the answer to the challenges of modern warfare: fast, accurate, scalable and compatible with existing systems. And if the tests are successful, we may see this system in service with new armies in the next couple of years.

North Korea launches mass production of powerful KN-25 missile system

 

North Korean leader Kim Jong- un inspects the production line of the 600- mm multiple launch rocket system KN-25

On May 3, 2025, photos appeared on social media confirming the start of mass production of one of the world's most powerful rocket launchers, the KN-25. This move marks a significant strengthening of the DPRK's long-range precision artillery forces and underscores Pyongyang's desire to strengthen its deep-impact capabilities. Equipped with 600mm guided missiles, the KN-25 is capable of hitting targets up to 380 km away, making it a unique hybrid of traditional multiple launch rocket systems and tactical ballistic missiles.

The KN-25 is an advanced development by North Korean military engineers. The main features of the system include:

- Powerful 600mm Rockets: These guided munitions have high accuracy and destructive power.

- Firing range: The maximum range is 380 km, which allows you to hit strategically important targets in South Korea and even beyond.

- Hybrid design: The KN-25 combines features of multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS) and ballistic missiles, making it a difficult target for missile defense.

This combination of characteristics makes the KN-25 a serious threat to the enemy, especially amid tensions on the Korean peninsula.

The mass production of the KN-25 indicates that North Korea is actively increasing its military capabilities. The deployment of this system in large numbers is aimed at achieving several strategic goals.:

1. Enhanced Deep Strike capabilities: The KN-25 allows Pyongyang to hit key enemy targets at a considerable distance from the border.

2. Countering missile defense systems: The KN-25 missiles are designed to reduce the effectiveness of South Korean and American missile defense systems.

3. Psychological pressure: The presence of powerful weapons of this class increases pressure on the international community and demonstrates the DPRK's determination to defend its interests.

The start of mass production of the KN-25 has caused concern among both South Korea and the United States. Experts note that this system significantly enhances the military potential of the DPRK and may become a factor of destabilization in the region. In this regard, increased sanctions pressure on Pyongyang is expected, as well as the modernization of the allies' defense systems.

South Korea and the United States can accelerate the development of new missile defense technologies to neutralize the threat from the KN-25. This could lead to a new round of the arms race on the Korean peninsula.

The introduction of the KN-25 into the armed forces of the DPRK demonstrates that the country continues to invest in the development of its military technologies. Given the current geopolitical situation, it can be expected that Pyongyang will continue to improve its missile systems, including increasing their range and accuracy.

However, it also raises questions about stability in the region and the risks of conflict escalation. 

The mass production of the KN-25 missile system underscores North Korea's desire to strengthen its military capabilities and challenge the dominance of South Korean and American missile defense systems. This event has far-reaching consequences for the security of the region. The future of the Korean peninsula largely depends on how the countries involved in the conflict will respond to such steps by Pyongyang.

Oshkosh Defense unveils advanced ROGUE-Fires missile system

 Oshkosh Defense has unveiled an improved version of its ROGUE-Fires vehicle-mounted missile system, which is now equipped with the same family of ammunition as the Highly mobile Artillery Missile System (HIMARS).

ROGUE-Fires (Remotely operated ground-based expeditionary fire device) — It is a reconfigurable unmanned system designed to provide long-range and highly effective fire support in modern combat operations.

Capable of launching multiple missiles quickly and efficiently, it provides unparalleled versatility for dynamic combat situations.

 ROGUE-Fires