MiG-31K Kinzhal hits Patriots with hypersonic missile
It was reported that 32 missiles were launched from Patriot air defense systems to intercept MiG-31Ks loaded with Kinzhal, but they failed to intercept the MiG-31Ks, while Kindzal hypersonic missiles launched from MiG-31Ks destroyed Patriot batteries and radar systems on the ground.
MiG-31K and Kh-47M2 Kinzhal Hypersonic Missile
The Kh-47M2 Kinzhal (Russian: "Dagger", NATO code name Killjoy) is a Russian hypersonic air-launched ballistic missile. It is claimed to have a range of 2,000 km and a hypersonic speed of Mach 10. It can carry conventional or nuclear warheads and can be launched by Tu-22M3 bombers or MiG-31K interceptors. Kinzhal entered service in December 2017 and is deployed at air bases in Russia's Southern and Western Military Districts.
Mig-31K Attack on Ukraine's Patriot Batteries with Kinzhal
On May 16, as part of a wide range of attacks on targets in the Ukrainian capital Kiev, Russian Air Force MiG-31K attack aircraft launched Kh-47M2 Kinzhal ballistic missiles, targeting Ukraine's Patriot air defense systems.
The Patriot air defense missile batteries, recently shipped to Ukraine from Germany and the United States, are considered by far the most costly and high-end weapon systems in Ukrainian service and are used by seven NATO members as well as key overseas strategic partners such as Japan, Taiwan, South Korea and Israel.
The attacks on the Patriots follow warnings from Russian officials, as well as several analysts in the West, that any system delivered to Ukraine would be targeted and destroyed very quickly once operational.
The expected reputational damage to Patriot was known to be a major factor that made Washington hesitant to approve the transfer of these systems to Ukraine.
It was reported that 32 missiles from the Patriot air defense systems were launched to intercept the Kinzhal-laden MiG-31Ks, but they failed to intercept the MiG-31Ks, while the Kindzal hypersonic missiles launched from the MiG-31Ks destroyed Patriot batteries and radar systems on the ground. Little is known about the losses of the personnel manning the Patriot positions when they were hit. The severity of the destruction caused by the strikes means that casualties among the personnel operating these systems are likely, but this information is unlikely to be disclosed until at least years after the end of the war. However, the personnel using these systems are presumably mercenaries.
Washington's decision to deliver Patriot systems to Ukraine, announced in December, was motivated by an urgent need to strengthen the defense of major Ukrainian cities. Not only were cities like Kiev considered to be at serious risk of abandonment due to the rapid destruction of infrastructure in the face of Russian aggression, but Ukraine's existing air defense network, inherited from the Soviet era, whose ability to defend cities or frontline forces relied on huge arsenals, was severely depleted.
From now on, the effectiveness of Patriot against Kinzal will be seriously monitored and questioned.
Patriot Air Defense System (left), MiG-31K loaded with Kinzhal (right).
