Advertisement
Ukrainian and Western media covered Russia’s precise air strikes on December 14 near Starokonstantinov in the Khmelnitsky region, targeting a Ukrainian military airfield.Missiles from Russia were also launched towards the Sumy and Kiev regions, according to Yury Ignat, the speaker of Ukraine’s Air Force.As Ignat mentioned, the assaults were carried out by MiG-31K fighter jets equipped with Russia’s advanced Kinzhal hypersonic missiles.
The Kh-47M2 Kinzhal, also known as the “dagger,” is an air-launched hypersonic ballistic missile with the ability to carry nuclear or conventional warheads. It is reported to have a range of 1,500 to 2,000 kilometers and can reach speeds of up to Mach 10 (12,250 kilometers per hour). When launched from the Tupolev Tu-22M long-range strategic strike bomber, the Kinzhal’s range could be extended to 3,000 km.
The high-precision missile, with a probable circular error of less than one meter, employs an inertial navigation system (INS) that can be fine-tuned using the GLONASS system, which is akin to the GPS satellite-based navigation system. Additionally, assistance from AWACS aircraft is utilized to precisely target the intended objective. GLONASS, short for “Global Navigation Satellite System,” is a Russian counterpart to the GPS system.
Related Articles
Advertisement
Typically, the hypersonic system was created to target well-guarded stationary facilities located in enemy territory. Russian President Vladimir Putin revealed details about the Kinzhal during an address to the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation on March 1, 2018.
Putin mentioned that the exceptional flight-tactical features of the fast carrier aircraft allow the missile to reach the drop point within minutes. Simultaneously, the missile, traveling at hypersonic speeds—ten times the speed of sound—maneuvers throughout its entire flight path.
The Kinzhal hypersonic missile underwent tests in various settings. In mid-November 2019, a test took place in the Arctic region, as reported by Russian military industry sources. Launched from a MiG-31K departing from Olenegorsk airbase on the Kola Peninsula, the missile accurately struck a target at the Pemboy training ground, approximately 60 kilometers from Vorkuta. It covered a distance of around 1,300 km and reached a speed of Mach 10.
An airplane functions as the initial stage for the Kinzhal rocket, elevating it into the stratosphere and accelerating it to supersonic speeds. The stratosphere is positioned approximately 10 to 50 kilometers above the Earth’s surface, while the troposphere, located in between, extends from the surface up to about 8 to 15 kilometers.
One might question why the MiG-31 was chosen as the carrier for the Kinzhal. Despite being designed as a fighter-interceptor, the MiG-31’s appeal lies in its high speed and extensive flight range. The aircraft can reach speeds of 2,500 km/h (maximum – 3,000 km/h), with a flight range extending up to 3,000 km. Flight range refers to the maximum distance an aircraft can cover without refueling. Additionally, the warplane can attain a service ceiling of 20,600 meters. Service ceiling is the maximum altitude an aircraft can reach and operate effectively.
In September, reports indicated that the Kinzhal hypersonic missile had its inaugural use with the Su-34 fighter-bomber in a special military operation zone, suggesting its adaptability to different Russian aircraft.
On March 18, 2022, the Kinzhal saw its initial deployment in a special military operation zone, targeting and demolishing the well-fortified underground military arsenal of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the Ivano-Frankivsk region. The missile successfully penetrated the concrete walls of the storage facility, causing a substantial explosion.
In May, the Russian Air Forces successfully neutralized a US-made Patriot air defense system in Kiev using a Kinzhal missile. Videos circulating on various social media platforms show that despite firing 32 missiles, the MIM-104 Patriot failed to intercept the Kinzhal, leading to the destruction of the American air defense system by the Russian hypersonic missile.
International observers have frequently acknowledged the limited capability of current air defense systems to effectively intercept hypersonic missiles. However, the Ukrainian press asserted that their military successfully countered Russia’s advanced weapon on multiple occasions, yet failed to present any evidence supporting these assertions.
Following unsupported reports of the Patriot intercepting a Kinzhal in Ukraine in May, the hypersonic missile swiftly destroyed the US-made system, refuting the earlier claims and causing embarrassment to the Ukrainian leadership.
In December, the Ukrainian press once again claimed that the nation’s military had brought the hypersonic missile down, presenting no proof. Russian military observers explained the case, referring to a recent interview given by Ignat to a Ukrainian video channel. Ignat complained about a new trick adopted by the Russian military to overwhelm the Ukrainian air defenses. According to him, the Russian military uses both real missiles and decoy targets. Decoy targets are imitation objects designed to distract and confuse enemy defenses, making it more challenging to discern and intercept the actual threat.
This is what’s known as the enemy’s electronic warfare strategy. They create obstacles, like electromagnetic pulses, which make our radar systems detect targets that resemble Kinzhals in terms of speed and other flight characteristics. So, it becomes challenging for us to distinguish between the actual Kinzhal missiles and these electronic decoys says Ignat
According to Russian military observers, the Ukrainian military is pursuing false targets, thinking they have successfully shot them down. Meanwhile, actual hypersonic missiles consistently carry out their missions in the combat zone and beyond enemy lines.
𝐆𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐡 𝐋𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐚𝐀𝐞𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐞 & 𝐃𝐞𝐟𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐀𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐲𝐬𝐭