According to information published by the Russian press agency RIA Novosti on March 18, 2022, Russian armed forces have used for the first time Kinzhal hypersonic missile launched from an aircraft to destroy a Ukrainian military depot of ammunition in the village of Deliatyn in the Ivano-Frankivsk region, located about 100 km from the border with Romania.
What is a Hypersonic Missile?
A hypersonic missile can fly at a speed of Mach 5 (five times the speed of sound) while maneuvering in the atmosphere. Unlike ballistic missiles, hypersonic weapons do not follow a ballistic trajectory and can maneuver en route to their destination.
One of the advantages of the hypersonic missile is its ability to challenge detection and defense due to its speed, maneuverability, and low altitude of the flight. For example, terrestrial-based radar cannot detect hypersonic weapons until late in the weapon’s flight. This delayed detection compresses the timeline for decision-makers assessing their response options and for a defensive system to intercept the attacking weapon and potentially permitting only a single intercept attempt.
The Kinzhal Kh-47M2 also nicknamed Dagger is a Russian nuclear-capable air-to-ground hypersonic missile that can be launched from Tu-22M3 bomber or MiG-31K fighter aircraft. The development of the Kinzhal ballistic missile was based on the Russian-made ground-launched Iskander-M short-range nuclear-capable ballistic missile using a solid-propellant rocket with small fins for maneuverability. The missile was successfully tested in July 2018 launched from a modified MiG-31 fighter, according to US intelligence reports.
Russian military source has reported the Kinzhal can reach a top speed of Mach 10, with a range of up to 1,200 miles (around 2,000 km) when launched from the MiG-31. The Kinzhal is reportedly capable of maneuverable flight, as well as of striking both ground and naval targets, and could eventually be fitted with a nuclear warhead.