Russia tests its new Kinzhal hypersonic missile
The Russian military has carried out a combat training launch of the Kinzhal aero ballistic hypersonic missile that President Vladimir Putin spoke of in a message to the Federal Assembly.
“A MiG-31 fighter of the Russian Aerospace Forces has carried out a combat training launch of the Kinzhal aero ballistic hypersonic missile in a given area,” TASS quotes the Russian Ministry of Defense as reporting. The military stated that the missile hit its target at the test site.
The Ministry of Defense assured that tests have proved the combat effectiveness of a Kinzhal aero ballistic hypersonic missile. Moreover, the Ministry said that from the beginning of 2018, the crew of the Kinzhal aircraft missile system has carried out over 250 flights.
“According to a combat training plan, from the beginning of the year, the crew of the aircraft system that is on combat duty has carried out over 250 flights. Aircraft personnel have been fully trained day and night in various weather conditions,” the Defense Ministry’s statement reads.
In the annual address to the Federal Assembly made by Putin on March 1st, 2018, over 40 minutes of his speech were devoted to the problems of the development of new weapons. During the speech the President not only told of the creation of a Kinzhal aero ballistic hypersonic missile but also demonstrated the video of its tests.
Putin assured that the flight performance of the aircraft enables delivery of the missile to the release point “within minutes” and that the missile can fly up to ten times the speed of sound and maneuver at any altitude.
Putin added that this enables the missile to cope with all existing and advanced air defense and missile defense systems delivering nuclear and conventional payloads to a range of up to two thousand kilometers. According to him, in December 2017, the missile system became operational at the Southern military district.