(Photo: Russian MoD)
The Kh-47M2 Kinzhal (Dagger) is a Russian nuclear-capable Air Launched Ballistic Missile (ALBM) and qualifies as a long-range standoff weapon. It has a claimed range of more than 2,000-km, Mach 10 speed, and an ability to perform evasive manoeuvres at every stage of its flight. It can carry both 480-kg conventional High Explosive (HE) fragmentation or 100 to 500-kT nuclear warheads and can be launched from Tupolev Tu-22M3 (Backfire) bombers or MiG-31K (Foxhound) interceptors. The Kinzhal entered service in December 2017 and has been deployed at airbases in Russia›s Southern Military District and Western Military District. The missile is designed to strike United States and North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) warships, including aircraft carriers, posing a threat to Russia’s strategic military assets and to destroy NATO military infrastructures like airfields as well as Command & Control (C&C) nodes protected by Ballistic Missile Defence (BMD) system by overcoming any known or planned United States BMD systems including MIM-104 Patriot, Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) and ship based Aegis. The missile first stage solid-propellant rocket is probably shared with OTK 9K723 Iskander-M Short Range Ballistic Missile (SRBM) and the guidance section is specifically designed for this missile offering greater range and flexibility. It has similar dimensions as the OTK 9M723 Iskander-M, the Kinzhal has a length of 8-m, a body diameter of 1-m, and tail section, reduced rudders, and a special stub at the missile’s tail designed to protect engine nozzles during high-speed fight. Within seconds from launch, the missile accelerates to hypersonic speed and performs manoeuvres at all stages of the flight to evade enemy missile defences. Guidance is inertial with possible fine adjustments a launch weight of approximately 4,300-kg. There are key distinct features from the ground-based Iskander, however, including a redesigned by GLONASS series of satellites. The high speed of the Kinzhal likely gives it far better target-penetration characteristics than lighter subsonic cruise missiles. Being three times as heavy and almost twelve times as fast as Tomahawk cruise missiles, the Kinzhal has more than 432 times the on-cruise kinetic energy. Russian media claims the missile’s range is 2,000-km when launched by the MiG-31K and 3,000-km when launched by the Tupolev Tu-22M3. An aircraft’s ability to launch from unpredictable directions would strain sectored (non-360 degree) radars, such as those currently deployed with the MIM-104 Patriot system. Circular Error Probable (CEP) is 10 to 20-metres. The weapon made its public debut during the Aviadarts international contest in August 2019.
(Photo: AP)
(Photo: researchgate.net)
Article by Sayan Majumdar