Why did Moscow use Kinzhal hypersonic missiles?
War in Ukraine, Russia used Kinzhal hypersonic missiles – that's what they are
Amid bloody reality, military escalation demonstrated in the field and warning propaganda to friends of Ukraine, Russia on Friday destroyed an underground depot of missiles and aviation ammunition in the west of the attacked country. It is not clear if there are any victims.
To achieve the goal, he would have launched Kinzhal hypersonic missiles. For the first time, in more than three weeks of invasion of the country, Moscow is showing off the top of the range of its military catalog. He uses it near the village of Delyatyn. A few hundred kilometers from the borders with Slovakia, Hungary and Romania. All Countries Born. On Saturday, the Ministry of Defense confirmed the advances of the state news agency RIA Novosti . Both on the website and via twitter, the ministry has released images of the attack. In short, the Russians appear to have carried out a life-size test to launch a hypersonic missile at an infrastructure protected from nuclear attacks. The deposit is a legacy of the Soviet past. Is there a message to NATO, the US and the EU? Clearly.
Destruction of a weapons depot of the Armed Forces of Ukraine by high-precision missile weapons strike. We can see the exact hit of an underground hangar with weapons and ammunition. pic.twitter.com/sKTF46Tdb0
– Минобороны России (@mod_russia) March 19, 2022
The attack, if confirmed, would represent both the first known use of the Kinzhal in combat, and yet another Russian attack on facilities in western Ukraine near the borders of the country with multiple NATO members.
But that video posed more than one question to US military analysts. Crossing the data, something doesn't seem to come back. The video documents a bombing, but “from the repertoire”. It would go back to March 12, near a farm. Not in western Ukraine, but in eastern Ukraine. The War Zone 's Tyler Rogoway notes that "there is absolutely no reason to use a valuable weapon like Kinzhal on this eastern Ukraine target, even if it were a missile warehouse."
Why did Moscow decide to use the Kinzhals now?
American officials have admitted the possibility of the use of missiles. Ukraine – Bloomberg reports – did not immediately comment on Russia's claims. He later verified attacks but, at the same time, the Air Force command was unable to confirm or refute information about the Russians' statements. It is well known that rockets are launched. But which missiles did they use? The Kinzhals or the Iskanders ?
Not that the latter are reassuring toy weapons. Iskander missiles are also hypersonic missiles and capable of evading anti-missile defenses. They can load a nuclear warhead. However, they have a more contained range – about 400 – 500 km -, a speed of 5.9 mach and an exclusively terrestrial launcher.
The Kinzhal is one of six "next generation" weapons Vladimir Putin cited in his March 2018 speech. It has a claimed range of 1,500-2,000 km with a nuclear or conventional payload of 480 kg. It is 8 meters long, with a diameter of one and a launch weight of approximately 4,300 kilograms. It's an aerial missile, for launching from a MiG-31. After launch, the Kinzhal accelerates quickly and can reach speeds of up to Mach 10 (12,350 km / h). This speed, combined with the missile's erratic flight trajectory and high maneuverability, makes interception virtually impossible.
Putin said in 2018 he was capable of overcoming any US missile defense. Even the Pentagon admits it. "The speed of the Kinzhal puts it beyond the reach of any Ukrainian air defense system and the launch pads can be launched from distances beyond the reach of Ukraine," James Bosbotinis , defense and business specialist told the BBC on Saturday. international.
Kinzhal and cousins can change the balance of the world. Not just Russia. China, the United States and North Korea are also testing such hypersonic missiles.
Russia never admitted to using the weapon in combat, only in practice. Is boasting of its use in war right now a clear sign? "It is also a warning to the West that Russia can up the ante in Ukraine and that Kinzhal could be deployed if the war escalates," Bosbotinis added.
We will be able to investigate whether Russia really used the Kinzhals . But as a piece of propaganda the work is already done. Fear and panic are creeping in. By sending Kinzhals to Ukraine, Putin is sending the West an important message. It is reminding the world that whatever logistics challenges its military, the weapons countries send to Ukraine, Russia retains an edge in cutting-edge nuclear and conventional weapons.
Russia retains other long-range attack options to target Ukraine. Due to its increased range, the Kinzhal is a "carrier killer" – capable of wiping out an entire US group of Carrier Strike aircraft carriers. And to hit several European countries. The message could not be clearer: if you intervene in the conflict, you continue to intervene in this way, I will use this system against you. If it struggles to achieve its goals, Russia will simply switch to more destructive weapons.
This is a machine translation from Italian language of a post published on Start Magazine at the URL https://www.startmag.it/mondo/perche-mosca-ha-usato-i-missili-ipersonici-kinzhal/ on Sun, 20 Mar 2022 07:30:32 +0000.