SOURCE: AFI
The Russian-built Oniks cruise missile, a close cousin of the Indian-Russian Brahmos, has been making waves with its impressive stealth capabilities. Recent reports suggest that the missile’s frontal radar cross-section (RCS) is as low as 0.15 square meters in the X-band (10-12 GHz), making it extremely difficult to detect for radar systems. While the RCS may be slightly higher in the S and C bands, it remains a formidable challenge for air defense systems.
The effectiveness of the Oniks missile was demonstrated during the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Despite facing a sophisticated Ukrainian Integrated Air Defense System (IADS), which is generally considered more advanced than Pakistan’s, Russia was able to successfully deliver 199 out of 211 Oniks missiles to their targets. This remarkable success rate highlights the missile’s ability to evade detection and interception.
The incident involving the accidental firing of a Brahmos missile into Pakistan on March 9, 2022, further underscores the challenges posed by such high-speed, low-RCS missiles. Despite the human error that led to the incident, the fact that Pakistan’s air defense system was unable to effectively intercept the missile reinforces the notion that these weapons are difficult to counter.
The combination of high speed, low RCS, and advanced guidance systems makes the Oniks and Brahmos missiles significant threats to any potential adversary. As countries continue to invest in missile defense technologies, the development of countermeasures to these stealthy weapons will remain a critical area of focus.