Russia Touts the Capabilities of its Kinzhal Hypersonic Missile – In May of this year, Ukrainian forces claimed to have shot down six Russian Kinzhal missiles in a single evening – which questions whether the Kremlin had exaggerated the abilities of the weapons.
As previously reported, prior to launching its unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, Moscow purported that its top-of-the-line fighter jets, cutting-edge main battle tanks (MBTs) and superior missile systems would obliterate any enemies.
As the conflict has progressed, however, Russia’s heavy weaponry and other military equipment have not performed as expected. Yet, the Kremlin has continued to tout the capabilities of some of its high-profile military hardware platforms.
Such was the case on Monday, when a Rostec official stated boldly that the Kinzhal hypersonic missile cannot be shot down, and disputed Kyiv’s claims of intercepting the missiles with the U.S.-made MIM-104 Patriot air defense system.
“Of course, it is impossible to intercept Kinzhals. The point is that the Kinzhal system integrates the technologies that today actually cannot be overcome from the standpoint of halting the missile’s movement to the designated area,” Rostec First Deputy CEO Vladimir Artyakov said in a live broadcast on the Rossiya-24 television channel on Monday and quoted by Tass.
“This is one of the elements of our enemy’s propaganda work,” Artyakov added, countering Kyiv’s claims that any Kinzhal hypersonic missiles had been shot down by a Patriot air defense system.
The Kinzhal is the Kremlin’s latest system with hypersonic aero-ballistic missiles, and it is carried by a specially equipped MiG-31K fighter-interceptor. The hypersonic missile features a low radar signature and high maneuverability and is designed to strike ground and naval targets.
The “vulnerability” of the Kinzhal was “likely a surprise and an embarrassment for Russia: Russian President Vladimir Putin has touted the system as undefeatable,” the British Ministry of Defence said in an intelligence briefing in May.
The Kinzhals had been employed in Ukraine since March 18, 2022, Newsweek reported. It was originally unveiled as part of a new set of advanced weapons in 2018, and it is reported to have an estimated range of around 1,250 miles. It can reach speeds of Mach 10 (10 times the speed of sound), and it can be equipped with both nuclear and conventional warheads.
Counter-Fire Claims
Though the Kremlin has doubled down on its claims that the Kinzhal missile cannot be shot down, Kyiv has countered – and announced the hypersonic missiles were successfully shot down by the MIM-104 Patriot missile. It has been used to destroy at least four, and possibly five, Russian aircraft.
As of this spring, the Ukrainian military was operating two Patriot air defense systems, including one provided by Germany and the Netherlands. One of the systems has been damaged in a recent missile strike. Moscow claimed the battery was destroyed, but U.S. officials said the damage was minor.
By the end of next year, the U.S. will supply Ukraine with an additional five of the air defense platforms.
Author Experience and Expertise
A Senior Editor for 19FortyFive, Peter Suciu is a Michigan-based writer. He has contributed to more than four dozen magazines, newspapers, and websites with over 3,200 published pieces over a twenty-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a Contributing Writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu.
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