Russia said on Friday it used the Kinjal (Dagger) high-precision hypersonic missile that can destroy most defense systems to destroy an arms depot in Deliatin, a village near the Romanian border.
Moscow has never admitted to using state-of-the-art missiles in war before.
Here are 5 major updates related to the missile strike
“The Kinjal aviation missile system with hypersonic aeroballistic missiles destroyed a large underground warehouse containing missiles and aviation ammunition in the village of Delyatin in the Ivano-Frankivsk region,” the Russian Defense Ministry said on Saturday.
Hypersonic missiles can be used to deliver conventional warheads more quickly and accurately than other missiles. But their ability to deliver nuclear weapons could pose a threat to the country, which could increase the risk of a nuclear conflict.
The Kinjal missile was one of the new weapons unveiled by Putin in his State of the Nation address in 2018. The nuclear-capable hypersonic aero-ballistic air-to-ground missile has a claimed range of over 2,000 km. , speed of Mach 10, and the ability to perform aggressive maneuvers at every stage of its flight.
It can carry both conventional and nuclear warheads and can be launched from a Tu-22M3 bomber or a MiG-31K interceptor.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has dubbed the Kinzel air-launched missile “an ideal weapon” that can fly at 10 times the speed of sound and can overcome air-defense systems.
Never miss a story! Stay connected and informed with Mint.
download
Our App Now!!