[Goose]

Maybe the Ukranians know when a Russian missile is going to hit a vacated spot and don't try to down it?


BC

In general, they can't know the target of a cruise missile. It may be on a direct track over some point that Ukraine wants to defend and therefore it needs to be shot down for sure. However, the missile can target anywhere along the track and Ukraine can't know where it will dive and hit. The Kalibr and KH-1xx missiles can also maneuver on their flight path so they may appear to be overflying nothingness and then turn toward a vital target, giving Ukraine little (or inadequate anyway) time to react. The  Kh-22 series hard enough to shoot down that if Ukraine has a shot, they will take it IMHO. These high speed missiles don't give you a lot of time to figure out what they are aimed at. Fortunately, they are inaccurate enough they probably won't hit it anyway.

The low altitude missiles and drones give the air defenses such a short tracking window (from the ground) it is probable nobody even attempts to predict where they are going. The Iranian drones have also been also seen to maneuver, but whether that is pre-programmed or a "real time" action is not in general known. In any case, any maneuver capable missile has to be attacked whenever possible because you can't kno where its is actually going.

[Goose]

Maybe the Ukranians know when a Russian missile is going to hit a vacated spot and don't try to down it?


BC

In general, they can't know the target of a cruise missile. It may be on a direct track over some point that Ukraine wants to defend and therefore it needs to be shot down for sure. However, the missile can target anywhere along the track and Ukraine can't know where it will dive and hit. The Kalibr and KH-1xx missiles can also maneuver on their flight path so they may appear to be overflying nothingness and then turn toward a vital target, giving Ukraine little (or inadequate anyway) time to react. The  Kh-22 series hard enough to shoot down that if Ukraine has a shot, they will take it IMHO. These high speed missiles don't give you a lot of time to figure out what they are aimed at. Fortunately, they are inaccurate enough they probably won't hit it anyway.

The low altitude missiles and drones give the air defenses such a short tracking window (from the ground) it is probable nobody even attempts to predict where they are going. The Iranian drones have also been also seen to maneuver, but whether that is pre-programmed or a "real time" action is not in general known. In any case, any maneuver capable missile has to be attacked whenever possible because you can't kno where its is actually going.