Russia attacks Ukraine with Daggers from time to time. What is known about the aviation missile system, its characteristics, as well as its history and use in Ukraine — read in the material Facts ICTV.
What is the Dagger missile system
Missile complex Kinzhal (or 9-A-7660 Kinzhal, and in some sources X-47M2 Kinzhal) – This is a Russian hypersonic aviation missile system, the hypersonic missiles of which are capable of hitting both stationary objects and surface targets: aircraft carriers, cruisers, destroyers and frigates.
According to some reports, the Dagger is an aviation version of the Iskander missile system.
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A little history
The first successful tests of the Kinzhal missile system were carried out by Russia on December 1, 2017. In February-March 2018, its operational military tests began.
Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the appearance of the Dagger complex to the general public for the first time in his message to the Federal Assembly in March 2018.
At the same time, video materials of testing the complex were demonstrated.
They show that the functions of the combat platform (carrier aircraft) are performed by the long-range supersonic interceptor fighter MiG-31.
It was stated that the missile, after being released at a given point, then flew at hypersonic speeds, exceeding the speed of sound by 10 times, and maneuvering along the entire flight path.
This combination of characteristics allows the complex’s missile to be guaranteed to overcome all existing air defense and missile defense systems. To achieve the stated speed, the missile must be accelerated by the carrier, and the MiG-31 is best suited for this.
According to military experts, the new missile is not a cruise missile, but an aeroballistic one. That is, its flight trajectory is maintained due to high speed.
The MiG-31 fighter, specially upgraded to launch this missile, actually serves as its first stage, launching outside the dense layers of the atmosphere at altitudes from 12 to 15 thousand meters.
The rocket flight also takes place at the boundary of the stratospherein order to avoid significant air resistance.
Debunking Myths
The dagger may indeed be a formidable weapon, but it is far from being the rampant complex Russia has claimed, so it probably shouldn't be further characterized as a hypersonic weapon. The Jerusalem Post writes about this.
According to a January report to the US Congress, hypersonic weapons — These are projectiles and vehicles that are capable of flying and maneuvering through the atmosphere at Mach 5 (five times the speed of sound) for extended periods, and the high maneuver speed theoretically makes them difficult to track and intercept by air defenses.
NATO's 2020 report on hypersonic weapons states that the Kinzhal should not be characterized as a hypersonic weapon, but the complex was included in this list due to its ability to maneuver along its ballistic trajectory. And while the Kremlin says the missile can reach speeds of Mach 10, a NATO report indicates its speed is likely much lower.
The MSN publication also writes that previously the Kinzhal could penetrate the strong air defense of Ukraine, but after May 4, thanks to the Patriot system, the opinion about the complex changed.
— It looks like the much-inflated bubble of hype surrounding Russia's hypersonic wonder missile may have deflated at least a little, — says the MSN article.
We remind you that the commander of the Air Force of the Ukrainian Armed Forces Nikolai Oleshchuk officially confirmed the first case of the destruction of an X-47 Kinzhal missile from the Patriot anti-aircraft missile system on May 4.
Application in Ukraine
May 9, 2022 from Tu-22M3 strategic aviation aircraft three missiles were launched at civilian targets in the Odessa region complex Dagger. As a result of the strike, two people were injured and five tourist infrastructure buildings were destroyed.
Another attack with Kinzhal missiles took place on August 7, 2022, when the enemy struck targets in the Vinnytsia region.
January 26, 2023 Russia launched another massive missile strike on the territory of Ukraine. In particular, the enemy carried out 55 launches of air- and sea-based missiles.
Among the missiles fired — X-101, X-555, X-47 Dagger, Caliber, X-59. The missiles were fired from Tu-95, Su-35, MiG-31 aircraft and ships from the Black Sea.
On the morning of August 11, 2023 the enemy fired Kh-47M2 Kinzhal aeroballistic missiles from the MiG-31K across Ukraine.
On the morning of December 29, 2023 Russian troops launched a massive missile strike on Ukraine , launching 158 air targets (missiles and Kamikaze Shahed drones). In particular, the takeoff of five MiG-31K fighters was recorded, which launched five Kh-47M2 Kinzhal aeroballistic missiles from the Astrakhan region.
December 31 Russian aviation launched Kinzhal missiles at Ukraine. Explosions were heard in Kropyvnytskyi on Krivoy Rog.
January 8, 2024 Russian aviation launched another combined missile strike on Ukraine. Four MiG-31K aircraft were lifted over the territory of the Russian Federation to launch Kinzhal ballistic missiles.
Tactical and technical characteristics of the RK Dagger
Carrier (launcher):
- MiG-31K — 1 rocket;
- Tu-22M3 — 4 rockets;
- Tu-160 — supposed to have 4 on each of the two drums (possibly a smaller version for the Su-57);
- Su-57 — in the future.
Rocket: 9-C-7760 – aeroballistic.
Maximum range of the complex:
- MiG-31K – 2 thousand km;
- Tu-22M3 — more than 3 thousand km.
Maximum speed: up to 14,688 km/h or 4,080 m/s.
Flight altitude at the moment of reaching hypersonic speed: 20 km.
QUO: 1 m.
Warhead type: conventional or nuclear.
Warhead mass: 500 kg.
