Kh-47M2 Kinzhal
Russian nuclear-capable air-launched ballistic missile
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Key Takeaways
- The Kh-47M2 Kinzhal (Russian: Х-47М2 Кинжал , IPA: [kʲɪn'ʐaɫ] , lit.
- It has an estimated range of 460–480 km (290–300 mi) and a reported top speed of Mach 10.
- It has been deployed at airbases in Russia's Southern Military District and Western Military District.
- It was first used in combat during the first month of the Russo-Ukrainian war.
- Design The overall design of the missile is shared with the older ground-launched 9K720 Iskander missile, adapted for air launching with a modified guidance section for the Kinzhal.
The Kh-47M2 Kinzhal (Russian: Х-47М2 Кинжал, IPA: [kʲɪn'ʐaɫ], lit. 'Dagger'; NATO reporting name: AS-24 Killjoy) is a Russian air-launched ballistic missile. It has an estimated range of 460–480 km (290–300 mi) and a reported top speed of Mach 10. It can carry either conventional or nuclear warheads and can be launched by Tu-22M3 bombers, MiG-31K interceptors, or modified Su-34 fighter–bombers.
It has been deployed at airbases in Russia's Southern Military District and Western Military District.
The Kinzhal entered service in December 2017 and was one of the six new Russian strategic weapons unveiled by Russian president Vladimir Putin in March 2018. It was first used in combat during the first month of the Russo-Ukrainian war. The first interception of a Kinzhal occurred in May 2023, following the deployment of MIM-104 Patriot batteries the previous month.
Design
The overall design of the missile is shared with the older ground-launched 9K720 Iskander missile, adapted for air launching with a modified guidance section for the Kinzhal. It can reportedly hit both static targets and mobile ones such as aircraft carriers.
The high speed of the Kinzhal gives it better target penetration, shorter flight times and better evasion from SAM defense systems than lighter, slower cruise missiles.
In Russian media the "hypersonic" feature has been highlighted as a unique feature (hypersonic glide and scramjet) although the Kinzhal actually uses a standard ballistic missile technology at greater speeds. Thus the "hypersonic" property is shared with several older rocket engine designs and does not represent a technological innovation.
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