What Russia’s hype around new Kedr missile reveals

Defense Express explains this. 

Russian propaganda outlet Izvestia recently released an article praising the Kedr missile, emphasizing its alleged advanced features. This follows a familiar pattern of overhyping their military tech to claim superiority.

Among the boldest claims is that Kedr’s warheads can reach speeds of Mach 10 (3.4 km/s), making them supposedly "impossible to intercept by Western anti-missile systems." However, this assertion doesn’t hold up when compared to systems like the U.S. THAAD, which is designed to intercept targets moving at 3.5–4.8 km/s. “The Russians are exaggerating, to put it mildly,” the article notes.

Another claim involves Kedr’s supposed ability to endure temperatures of 4,000°C during re-entry, something Russia calls unprecedented. However, this temperature threshold is standard for spacecraft re-entering Earth’s atmosphere, suggesting the claim is more about posturing than technological breakthroughs.

The report also highlights Kedr's non-nuclear design, stating it would use conventional warheads and that current Patriot air defense systems cannot intercept it. While this is partially accurate, it overlooks the fact that systems like THAAD could counter such missiles if Ukraine or NATO partners deployed them.

Additionally, Russia claims Kedr’s design leverages existing ICBM components to increase production efficiency. However, their actual ICBM production data tells a different story. Over the past two decades, Russia has produced only 521 ICBMs — averaging just 20–30 per year — raising doubts about its ability to scale Kedr’s production.

One of the more absurd claims from Russian sources is that a few Kedr missiles, when used together, could replicate the destructive effect of a 1-kiloton nuclear warhead. For instance, they suggest five missiles striking an airbase would mimic tactical nuclear strikes.

At Defense Express, they stress that regardless of Russia’s propaganda, Ukraine must focus on strengthening its missile defense. Advanced systems like THAAD, with capabilities against such threats, are critical for countering Kedr and similar weapons. No matter how much Russia inflates expectations around its "wunderwaffe," the reality often falls short. Strengthening defensive capabilities remains the best response to such threats.