According to information provided by Gennady Lepeshko, head of the Defence Commission of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Union of Russia and Belarus, Russian specialists are providing Minsk with technical support in developing a compact tactical nuclear warhead for the modernized Polonez-M multiple launch rocket system. The new warhead is expected to have adjustable yield in the range of 1 to 15-20 kilotons.
The most likely carrier of the nuclear warhead will be the M20 quasi-ballistic operational-tactical missile included in the Polonez-M ammunition load. In its standard configuration with a non-nuclear warhead, its range is about 280 km. Installing a lighter nuclear warhead, according to expert estimates, could increase this figure to 400-450 km. At the same time, during the boost phase of its trajectory the missile is capable of reaching hypersonic speeds of up to Mach 5.5, and in the terminal phase reducing them to 750-900 m/s in the troposphere, which, combined with the ability to dive at angles of 85-90 degrees, significantly complicates its interception by modern air defence systems.
The developers are paying special attention to anti-aircraft maneuvering algorithms: by loading special programs into the inertial navigation system (INS) and onboard controller, the missile will be able to perform sharp maneuvers in the final phase of flight, evading surface-to-air missiles.
In addition to the M20, the new nuclear warhead can also be integrated into the two-stage 301-mm A200 guided rockets used in the baseline version of the Polonez MLRS. In this case, their range will increase from 190 to 270-320 km.
The mass deployment of Polonez-M systems with a tactical nuclear warhead could create a serious deterrent effect against NATO armed forces deployed in Poland and Lithuania. Especially in the context of possible attempts to blockade Kaliningrad Region, where Russia has strategically important military infrastructure. The new missiles are capable of delivering high-precision strikes against air defence assets, command posts, and troop concentrations at depths of up to 450 km, which significantly complicates the actions of a potential adversary on the western flank of the CSTO.