2023-05-17 08:10:44
MOskau praises its Kinzhal hypersonic missile as “invulnerable”. According to Ukraine, however, it was able to intercept several missiles of this type on Tuesday night. So is the alleged silver bullet vulnerable after all? Markus Schiller, a specialist in long-range missiles at the University of the German Armed Forces in Munich, says of the Ukrainian information: “I think it’s quite realistic.”
Kinshaws are actually considered particularly difficult to intercept due to their high speed, altitude and maneuverability. Moscow, which uses the missiles in the Ukraine war, has created a virtual myth about them. But Schiller says Ukraine’s Patriot systems “should be able to launch these missiles.”
The American interception system, made available to Ukraine by Western allies in April, is among the best in the world. It can track up to 50 targets and fight five objects at once. Last week, Kiev reported the launch of a Kinzhal missile for the first time. The Ukrainian Air Force General Mykola Oleschuk saw it as a “historic event”.
A Russian Air Force Mikoyan MiG-31 interceptor loaded with the Kinzhal hypersonic missile
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Image: dpa
The Kinschal, translated “dagger”, is not a new weapon, but probably a further development of the Russian short-range missile Iskander-M. Unlike the Iskander, Kinzhal missiles are fired from the air, primarily by MiG-31 fighter jets. But there are also Russian reports that the rockets were mounted on supersonic bombers, says Schiller. That would increase the range of the weapon system.
Basically, the Kinschal has many characteristics of a ballistic missile, says Schiller. A lot of work has been done in recent years to ensure that Patriot systems could intercept such missiles. They could also be used to combat maneuverable missiles such as the Kinshah. Footage of debris indicated that Ukraine intercepted either Iskander or Kinzhal missiles.
Number of missiles not known
According to Russian information, the Kinschal can cover a range of up to 2,000 kilometers. There are discussions among experts as to whether this is the case, says Schiller. “I don’t see it that way in terms of performance.” He assumes that the distance covered by the combat aircraft is included in the stated range.
“Of course it sounds better when Putin says the missile flies 2,000 kilometers and that is then interpreted accordingly.” It is not known how many Kinzhal missiles Russia has. Schiller estimates that the number was in the low triple digits at the beginning of the war, but is now in the double digits. “The Russians will eventually run out of them if they continue like this,” he says.
Moscow, on the other hand, reported a successful deployment of the hypersonic missile on Tuesday. After Ukraine reported that it had intercepted all Russian missiles, the Russian military claimed to have destroyed a western Patriot air defense system with a kinshah. The information could not be independently verified.
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