Correction: MIRV stands for Multiple Independent Reentry Vehicle. And each of these maneuverable vehicles contains 6 (six) independently maneuverable warheads. So a single Oreshnik has 36 total warheads, not 6.
MIRV does indeed stand for Multiple Independently targetable Re-entry Vehicle, as you rightly point out, and the Oreshnik carries 6 of these maneuverable re-entry vehicles (RVs). However, the 6 submunitions (often called impactors or penetrators) inside each RV are not themselves considered independently maneuverable warheads.
The missile's post-boost bus releases the 6 RVs, which can be guided toward separate aimpoints (so up to ~6 distinct targets or target areas).
In the terminal phase, each RV then releases ~6 smaller kinetic impactors. These disperse into a tight cluster or pattern for area saturation around that RV's main target — they are not fully independent for striking 36 widely separated targets.
So a single Oreshnik creates ~36 total impact points in its demonstrated conventional configuration (great for saturating a factory, airfield, or similar site), but it's structured as 6 primary targeted zones, not 36 fully independent warheads.
Reports differ on whether the 36 warheads (kinetic or armed) are indeed independently maneuverable, but there are 36 of them, not 6, as this video suggest.
Correction: MIRV stands for Multiple Independent Reentry Vehicle. And each of these maneuverable vehicles contains 6 (six) independently maneuverable warheads. So a single Oreshnik has 36 total warheads, not 6.
MIRV does indeed stand for Multiple Independently targetable Re-entry Vehicle, as you rightly point out, and the Oreshnik carries 6 of these maneuverable re-entry vehicles (RVs). However, the 6 submunitions (often called impactors or penetrators) inside each RV are not themselves considered independently maneuverable warheads.
The missile's post-boost bus releases the 6 RVs, which can be guided toward separate aimpoints (so up to ~6 distinct targets or target areas).
In the terminal phase, each RV then releases ~6 smaller kinetic impactors. These disperse into a tight cluster or pattern for area saturation around that RV's main target — they are not fully independent for striking 36 widely separated targets.
So a single Oreshnik creates ~36 total impact points in its demonstrated conventional configuration (great for saturating a factory, airfield, or similar site), but it's structured as 6 primary targeted zones, not 36 fully independent warheads.
Reports differ on whether the 36 warheads (kinetic or armed) are indeed independently maneuverable, but there are 36 of them, not 6, as this video suggest.