Russia reveals weakness of Kinzhal missile
According to expert Konstantin Sivkov, to ensure a destructive attack on the target, the Russian Air Force may have to launch up to 10 Kinzhal hypersonic missiles into an area.
To make a shot, the missile needs to approach at a distance sufficient to exert its power and accuracy, said expert Konstantin Sivkov. In this situation, the MiG-31BM squadron equipped with Kinzhal missiles would be a major threat.
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MiG-31 fighter carrying Kinzhal missile. |
And in that case, it is necessary that the warhead's operational range be 2-3 times greater than the target designation error. But existing target designation means can sometimes give information with an error of about 10 miles or more, and in this situation, Kinzhal may not find the real target.
Mr. Konstantin Sivkov said that to overcome this situation, the Russian Air Force may have to fire up to 10 missiles of this type into an area to reduce the risk. Because 3 out of 10 missiles will definitely catch the target to attack, this makes it difficult for the most modern US interceptors to cope.
If this expert's analysis is correct, it means that in order to destroy an enemy aircraft carrier, the Russian Air Force must mobilize up to 10 MiG-31BM fighters. The reason for needing such a large number of fighters is because each fighter can only carry one Kinzhal hypersonic missile.
Thus, the MiG-31BM will have to face the risk of being countered by the enemy's ship-based air defense system because this is not a stealth fighter. Perhaps because of this weakness, the head of the US Navy, Richard Spenser confidently declared that, although the Kinzhal missile's speed is admirable, it is useless against US aircraft carriers.
General Richard Spenser said that US aircraft carriers remain relevant despite Russia’s successful development of revolutionary hypersonic missiles, stressing that the US Navy has measures in place to counter such weapons. However, he did not reveal his strategic card to deal with Kinzhal.
