Russian military shows off hypersonic nuclear-capable missile with new video
Putin said Kinzhal would bolster Russia’s military capability and render the US missile defence useless
The Russian military said it has conducted a successful test of a nuclear-capable hypersonic missile capable of sneaking through enemy defences.
A video posted by the Defence Ministry on Sunday showed a MiG-31 fighter jet launching a Kinzhal (Dagger) missile during a training flight. The ministry said the missile, which carried a conventional warhead, hit a practise target at a firing range in southern Russia.
President Vladimir Putin named Kinzhal this month among the new nuclear weapons he said would bolster Russia’s military capability and render the US missile defence useless.
Putin said Kinzhal flies 10 times faster than the speed of sound, has a range of more than 2,000 kilometres (1,250 miles) and can carry a nuclear or a conventional warhead. The military said it’s capable of hitting both land targets and navy ships.
Putin said the missile already had been put on combat duty with a unit of Russia’s Southern Military District. The Defence Ministry said in Sunday’s statement that the test launch proved the missile’s capability.
It added that the new weapon has no equal thanks to its superior maneuverability and ability to dodge enemy radars.
