Russian hypersonic missiles Kinzhal (Dagger) can receive target designation in the air and get it changed if necessary without landing the aircraft for this operation by a ground crew

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MiG-31K carrying a Kinzhal hypersonic missile (Picture source: Russian Air Force)

The MiG-31K crew is able to reprogram its Kinzhal hypersonic missile while flying. So far, it was said that programming takes place only on the ground, with target coordinates being entered into the missile before departure.

A source told TASS: “Now, the MiG-31K will begin to be on duty in the Black Sea area, and the Kinzhal with which they are armed can be programmed directly from the aircraft, which means that programming no longer needs to take place on the ground but can be carried out while flying, including for retargeting.”

However, according to other information confirmed to TASS by a source in the defense industry, the Kinzhal already can be programmed in the air by the weapons operator having received the coordinates from the ground. It was just not advertised.

On October 18, 2023, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that Russian MiG-31K high-altitude fighter interceptors with the Kinzhal hypersonic missile will begin patrolling over the Black Sea. Putin said: “This is not a threat. What I am now announcing is that, on my instructions, the Aerospace Forces are beginning to patrol on a permanent basis in the neutral zone of airspace over the Black Sea and our MiG-31 aircraft are armed with Kinzhal systems.”

Earlier, Rostec stated that Kinzhal hypersonic missiles are mass-produced and supplied to the troops in the required quantities.