Russia announced on August 18 that it had deployed planes equipped with state-of-the-art hypersonic missiles to Kaliningrad on Thursday, in a context of heightened tensions around this Russian enclave surrounded by NATO countries.
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Kh-47M2 Kinzhal hypersonic air-to-surface missile placed under a Mig-31K for the Victory Day parade, May 9, 2018 (Picture source: Wikipedia)
"As part of the implementation of strategic additional deterrence measures, three MiG-31s with Kinzhal hypersonic missiles have been redeployed to the Chkalovsk airfield in the Kaliningrad region", the Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement. a statement. The three aircraft will form a combat unit "operational 24 hours a day", he added.
The "Kinzhal" ("dagger" in Russian) hypersonic ballistic missiles and "Zircon" cruise missiles belong to a family of new weapons developed by Russia and which its President, Vladimir Putin, describes as "invincible". because supposed to be able to escape the opposing defense systems. Russia has several times announced that it has used hypersonic missiles in real conditions as part of the war it is waging in Ukraine.
The Kh-47M2 Kinzhal (NATO reporting name: Killjoy) is a nuclear-capable hypersonic aero-ballistic air-to-surface missile. It has a claimed range of more than 2,000 km (1,200 mi), Mach 12 speed (2.5 mi/s), and an ability to perform evasive maneuvers at every stage of its flight. It can carry both conventional and nuclear warheads and can be launched from Tu-22M3 bombers or MiG-31K interceptors. It has been deployed at air bases in Russia's Southern Military District and Western Military District.
The Kinzhal entered service in December 2017 and is one of the six new Russian strategic weapons unveiled by Russian President Vladimir Putin on 1 March 2018.
MiG-31 jets with Kinzhal missiles go on combat alert in west Russia (TASS)
MOSCOW, August 19. /TASS-DEFENSE/. Three Mikoyan MiG-31I fighter jets carrying Kinzhal hypersonic missiles have been redeployed to the Chkalovsk airfield in the Kaliningrad Region in west Russia as part of additional strategic deterrence measures, the press office of Russia’s Defense Ministry said on August 18.
“Starting from today, August 18, 2022, three MiG-31I aircraft with Kinzhal hypersonic missiles have redeployed to the Chkalovsk airfield in the Kaliningrad Region as part of additional strategic deterrence measures,” the press office said.
During the flight, the MiG-31I planes practiced interaction with fighter jets of the 6th air and air defense army and the Baltic Fleet’s air arm, the press office added.
“The MiG-31I aircraft with the Kinzhal airborne hypersonic system will be on round-the-clock combat alert at the Chkalovsk airfield,” the press office said.
The Kinzhal is an advanced Russian-made airborne system with hypersonic aero-ballistic missiles. Russian MiG-31K and MiG-31I fighter-interceptors have been chosen as the carriers of Kinzhal hypersonic missiles, which feature low radar signature and high maneuverability and are designed to eliminate ground and seaborne targets.
The Kinzhal hypersonic missile flies at 10 times the speed of sound and has a firing range of over 2,000 km. The missile is capable of maneuvering along the entire flight path and breaching any air and ballistic missile defenses. The missile can be outfitted with both conventional and nuclear warheads weighing 500 kg.
The Kinzhal airborne hypersonic missile systems have been on combat alert in the Russian Armed Forces since December 2017. Kinzhal hypersonic missiles were for the first time used in combat during the special military operation in Ukraine on March 18, 2022.
