US-supplied ATACMS hit Russian airbase amid escalating tensions

Satellite imagery reviewed by The War Zone has not revealed extensive damage at Khalino airfield due to cloud cover obscuring parts of the images. "The presence of any aircraft is also limited," The War Zone noted, suggesting that the base has not been a primary operational site for some time.

Despite potential aircraft absence, other valuable targets like air defense systems (such as S-400), fuel storage facilities, and ammunition depots remain vulnerable. The ATACMS missile system, designed for short-range ballistic missions up to 190 miles by the US Army since 1986, continues to play a role in modern warfare.

In related developments, open-source intelligence indicates an increase in destroyed Russian S-300 and S-400 SAMs within Ukraine. Additionally, there are claims that Ukrainian forces successfully used ATACMS to destroy components of a Russian S-400 Trimuf SAM system within Russia itself.

While ATACMS may be considered outdated technology compared to newer systems like the Patriot SAM system—which has defended against saturation attacks including those involving hypersonic Kinzhal missiles—their continued effectiveness underscores ongoing vulnerabilities in Russian defenses.

In parallel conflicts elsewhere, Israel reportedly destroyed Iran's Russian-supplied S-300 SAMs using F-35s without sustaining losses. The inability of Russia to dismantle Ukraine's air defense network after years of conflict means that its Air Force has not achieved air superiority and remains largely constrained to operations outside Ukrainian defenses. According to Britain's Ministry of Defence (MOD), this limitation results in Russian forces primarily using FAB bombs as airborne artillery from beyond Ukraine’s defensive perimeter.