Discover the technical details and consequences of Russia’s hypersonic Kinzhal missile strikes on Ukraine.
Identification of those responsible for the Kinzhal missile attacks
Ukrainian intelligence has identified 29 command, flight and technical personnel of the 44th Separate Aviation Regiment of the Special Long-Range Air Force of the Russian Aerospace Forces as being responsible for the Kinzhal hypersonic missile attacks on Ukraine. The regiment is stationed at Savasleyka airport in Russia’s Nizhny Novgorod Oblast, and comprises two squadrons equipped with up to 24 MiG-31K long-range fighter-interceptor aircraft.
Technical Analysis:
The MiG-31K, equipped to carry and launch the Kh-47M2 Kinzhal missile, can reach hypersonic speeds in the final phase of the attack thanks to its supersonic acceleration. The Kh-47M2 Kinzhal missile, weighing 500 kg and capable of being armed with nuclear warheads, has a range of up to 2,000 km, enabling rapid and precise strikes.
Advantages of Kinzhal missiles
Kinzhal missiles offer a number of tactical and strategic advantages, principally their ability to reach targets at great distances with extreme speed, thus reducing the adversary’s reaction time. In addition, their nuclear-weapon potential represents a significant strategic asset, with the potential to change threat dynamics in the region.
Disadvantages of Kinzhal missiles
However, the use of such missiles raises significant ethical and legal concerns, particularly in terms of civilian risks and regional destabilization. The high cost of these weapon systems and their specific maintenance could also limit their mass deployment.
Consequences of Kinzhal missile attacks
Kinzhal missile attacks have not only immediate repercussions in terms of material destruction and loss of life, but also long-term effects on regional and international security. These attacks can lead to military escalation and heighten tensions between Russia and Ukraine, potentially influencing the security policy of NATO and neighboring countries.
Kinzhal hypersonic missiles represent a significant advance in military technology, with profound implications for regional security. While their combat effectiveness is undeniable, their use also raises critical questions about the humanitarian and geopolitical consequences of modern warfare.
War Wings Daily is an independant magazine.