In the race to deploy a hypersonic missile arsenal, Russia has managed to achieve certain milestones that other countries are still developing. One of these achievements is the Kh-47M2 Kinzhal, an air-launched hypersonic missile that has reportedly had its baptism of fire over Ukrainian territory.
Various sources have reported that the Kh-47M2 Kinzhal is an evolution of the 9K720 Iskander short-range ballistic missile, which, together with the MiG-31K interceptor fighter, forms the 9-A-7760 Kinzhal weapon system. Having entered service at the end of 2017, the missile is said to have a range of 2,000 kilometers and to be capable of reaching Mach 10. Once launched, the Kinzhal accelerates to hypersonic speed within seconds, adding the ability to maneuver during all phases of its flight trajectory, making it a very difficult threat to counter.
The Kinzhal hypersonic missile was conceived as part of Moscow’s plan to develop a new arsenal of high strategic value, with its existence revealed in 2018 by Vladimir Putin himself. Its design was intended to strike high-value targets such as NATO warships that could threaten Russia’s strategic missile systems, as well as air defense systems and critical infrastructure. The Kinzhal weapon system was initially deployed with units in the Southern Military District, aimed at the Black Sea and Ukrainian theater of operations.
The entry into service of the Kh-47M2 Kinzhal hypersonic missile was also highlighted at the time by Sergei Surovikin, commander of the Russian Aerospace Forces, who stated: “…the Kinzhal system substantially increases the capabilities of the Russian Aerospace Forces to respond to any possible act of aggression against our country and, together with other strategic weapon systems, will contribute to deterring potential adversaries from rushing into action…. The high-speed fixed-wing platform allows the launch of a missile with unique performance characteristics within minutes. The main propulsion unit mounted on the aero-ballistic missile accelerates a warhead to hypersonic speed within seconds. The missile’s maneuvering at speeds several times greater than the speed of sound allows it to easily evade all existing or developing air defense and anti-ballistic missile defense systems.”
This last statement refers to the alleged ability of the Kinzhal to overcome any Western air defense or missile defense system currently in service, including the MIM-104 Patriot, the THAAD (Terminal High Altitude Area Defense) system, and the Aegis combat system (both naval and land-based). It would achieve this not only due to its high speed, but also because of its previously mentioned ability to maneuver in flight. Several analysts also speculate that the Kh-47M2 Kinzhal may be equipped with some form of countermeasures, as has been observed in certain Iskander missiles launched against Ukraine.
Reportedly, Russia carried out the first operational launch of a Kinzhal hypersonic missile in March 2022. The attack is said to have targeted a large underground weapons depot in western Ukraine. However, analyses of images and videos released by the Russian Ministry of Defense were not entirely conclusive or consistent with the details presented. Strikes with the Kh-47M2 are not frequent; on the contrary, their use has been sporadic. The most recent case dates back to March 2023, when Ukrainian authorities reported an unusual offensive due to the number of missiles used, also highlighting the impossibility of countering them with the available air defense systems.
For now, Russia is the only country to possess the capability provided by an air-launched hypersonic missile, especially after the United States decided to terminate the AGM-183 ARRW (Air-launched Rapid Response Weapon) program. Despite the capabilities offered by the Kinzhal weapon system, many analysts agree that it is not a “silver bullet,” although it is considered a highly relevant asset to be taken into account, with very limited countermeasures available against it.
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