"Kinzhal" will turn the entire NATO control system into dust

At a briefing on March 19, 2022, the Russian Defence Ministry reported the following: "On March 18, the ‘Kinzhal’ aviation missile system with hypersonic aeroballistic missiles destroyed a large underground warehouse of missiles and aviation ammunition of Ukrainian troops in the settlement of Delyatin, Ivano-Frankovsk region."

Thus, we are talking about the world's first combat use of hypersonic weapons.

The carrier of the aviation hypersonic complex Kh-47M2 "Kinzhal" is the fighter-interceptor MiG-31K. The flight speed of the hypersonic “Kinzhal” missile reaches Mach 10-12, i.e. 10-12 times faster than the speed of sound. The range of destruction of this aviation missile system is 2000 km. The MiG-31K fighter is capable of carrying one such missile.

It should be noted that the armed forces of NATO countries do not have analogues of these Russian weapons, and the exact dates when they may have them in service are also unknown. And Russia has put MiG-31K aircraft with “Kinzhal” on experimental combat duty since December 1, 2017.

It should be understood that hypersonic weapons are the main tool for ensuring Russia's national security at sea borders. Until March 18, 2022, “Kinzhal” was positioned mainly as an anti-ship hypersonic air-launched missile. At the same time, the case of its first combat use fell on a stationary underground facility.

During the evening briefing on March 21, 2022, the Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation noted: "The combat use of the ‘Kinzhal' hypersonic complex has confirmed its effectiveness in destroying highly protected special enemy objects. The strikes by this aviation missile system on the objects of the military infrastructure of Ukraine during the special military operation will continue."

Some details of the "Kinzhal" strike on a large underground warehouse of missiles and aviation ammunition of the Ukrainian troops in the village of Delyatin were also reported. In particular, the object was destroyed from a range of more than 1000 km, the flight time of the hypersonic missile was less than 10 minutes.

The information also emphasised the high security of the target: "Due to hypersonic speed and ultra-high kinetic energy, the warhead of the ‘Kinzhal’ missile complex destroyed a protected underground arsenal located in a mountainous area, built back in Soviet times to store special ammunition and missiles." On my own, I will add that "Kinzhal" was able to destroy the target with one hit.

Attention at the briefing was also focused on the following: "I would like to emphasise that the ‘Kinzhal’ complex is used with a conventional warhead. Although experts are well aware of the capabilities of this weapon, not only in terms of range, but also in terms of the type of charge." Here I will add and reveal a hint: "Kinzhal" can also be in nuclear equipment with a warhead with a capacity of 50 kilotons.

In fact, “Kinzhal” is an aviation variant of the “Iskander-M” mobile ground-launched missile system with an aeroballistic missile. The mass of the “Iskander” warhead is 480 kg.

Russia has the concrete-piercing aircraft bomb BETAB-500U, which is designed to destroy underground nuclear weapons depots. However, the penetration effect of "Kinzhal" is much higher, because it is achieved due to the hypersonic speed of the missile, which provides it with enormous kinetic energy. Experts estimate the penetration of tens of meters of concrete or stone, and not 2-3 meters of concrete, as in BETAB-500U. Important detail: “Kinzhal" strikes the target vertically from above.

The facility struck in Delyatin was put into operation in 1955. We are talking about a Soviet secret central nuclear weapons storage base with a specially formed underground infrastructure. It had anti-atomic protection, was located in mine workings deep underground and was additionally reinforced with meters of reinforced concrete.

Thus, Russia has sent a signal to the United States and NATO that it possesses weapons that, in conventional (non-nuclear) equipment, are capable of hitting the main elements of the enemy's state and military control system, which have the highest degree of protection. But this weapon also has a nuclear warhead with a capacity of 50 kilotons in TNT equivalent.

If we talk about the further development of the aviation hypersonic complex Kh-47M2 "Kinzhal", then there is the potential to expand its carriers. In particular, an upgraded version of the Tu-22M3 long-range bomber is being considered - Tu–22M3M. One Tu-22M3M will be able to carry 3 such missiles. The range of destruction of the complex with this carrier aircraft is estimated at 3000 km.

Now let's return to the anti-ship purpose of “Kinzhal”. The priority target is aircraft carrier strike groups, or rather aircraft carriers. The defeat of the aircraft carrier makes the further actions of aircraft carrier strike groups meaningless, because all the work is built around it, it is the core of this system.

The range of the “Kinzhal”missile in 2000 km from the MiG-31K carrier allows to launch it without entering the air defence zone of aircraft carrier strike groups. The hypersonic speed and trajectory of the missile (vertically from above) makes the defeat of the enemy aircraft carrier guaranteed.

And an example of combat use at an underground storage base in Delyatin suggests that "Kinzhal" will pierce through an aircraft carrier. Even one hit will disable it. It turns out that both American and British aircraft carrier strike groups will not be able to approach the Russian coast within the combat range of carrier-based aircraft, which at the moment is about 850 km.

During the briefing on March 19, 2022, the Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation also reported that on March 18, "the ‘Bastion’ coastal missile system destroyed the centres of radio and radio intelligence of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the settlements of VELIKY DALNIK and VELIKODOLINSKOYE of the Odessa region”.

The “Bastion” coastal missile system exists in two versions. Mobile is "Bastion-P", stationary is "Bastion-S". Later, a video of the Russian Defence Ministry appeared on the Internet. It was the "Bastion-P" that was used. By the way, “Bastion-P” also fired at ground targets in Syrian company.

At this stage, the “Bastion” complex is equipped with P-800 “Oniks” cruise anti-ship missiles, which have a maximum flight speed of up to Mach 2.5 and a range of hitting targets on the ground - up to 450 kilometres, at sea - up to 350 kilometres. What is important: the warhead of the P-800 “Oniks” missile can be in both conventional and nuclear equipment.

"Bastion" provides protection of the coast with a length of more than 600 km from enemy amphibious operations, the far frontier of the political and administrative region as part of a unified system of its coastal defence. The starting position of the complex can be 200 km away from the coastline.

Some colleagues were somewhat hasty to state that with the combat use of the “Bastion” missile defence system in Ukraine, "Russia has confirmed in practice that the Treaty on the Elimination of Intermediate-range and Shorter-range Missiles no longer exists”.

Indeed, Russia has not been legally bound by the INF Treaty since August 2, 2019. However, our country has not yet deployed smaller and medium-range ground-based missiles. The range of destruction of "Bastion" on a ground target is 450 km, and not "more than 600 km". And this indicator fits into the restrictions that were in the previously existing INF Treaty. Shorter-range missiles – 500-1000 km, medium-range missiles - 1000-5500 km.

In fairness, it should be noted that in September 2019, information appeared in the Russian media that the military-industrial corporation “Mashinostroeniya” had developed an improved model of the “Oniks” in the same weight and size characteristics - the “Oniks-M" missile, which has a flight range of up to 800 km.

In the future, the equipment of the “Bastion-P” and “Bastion-C” coastal missile systems with “Oniks-M” cruise missiles will make them shorter-range missile systems. However, there is no open information about the deployment of this missile. Moreover, Russia has undertaken unilateral commitments not to deploy medium- and shorter-range ground-based missiles first.

I would like to draw your attention to the fact that the American “Aegis Ashore” missile defence system is deployed in Romania near the village of Deveselu. Mk 41 launchers for 24 SM-3 anti-missiles can also be used to launch “Tomahawk” cruise missiles, which, depending on the version, have a range of up to 2,600 km. That is, “Aegis Ashore” can perform both anti-missile and strike functions. The construction of the “Aegis Ashore” missile defence base near the settlement of Redzikovo in Poland is being completed. Its readiness is 95%.

It is possible that due to the sharp aggravation of the international situation, the military-political leadership of our country may change its approach and abandon unilateral commitments not to deploy shorter- and medium-range ground-based missiles. Taking into account the above, there are already grounds for today.

It should be understood that the successful completion of the Russian special military operation in Ukraine will lead to a serious improvement in Russia's geostrategic position in Europe, and will significantly increase the level of security of our country.

Conducting this operation allows Russia to test, in particular, the latest samples of its missile weapons and practice their combat use. The “Kinzhal” hypersonic missile system has fully confirmed its unique characteristics. Its new specialisation in defeating the underground elements of the enemy's state and military administration, which have the highest degree of protection, has manifested itself. The high characteristics of the “Bastion” coastal missile systems have been confirmed once again.

Now our country can go both along the path of increasing the number of these missile means, and along the path of qualitative improvement of their combat characteristics. There are developments and plans in both the first and second directions. In addition, the territory of Ukraine will eventually expand the geography of the deployment of these missile systems.