Russia’s deployment of MiG-31K armed with Kinzhal (NATO nomenclature: AS-24 KILLJOY) missiles to Belarus is drawing the attention of the West, according to a Twitter thread posted by the UK’s Ministry of Defense (MoD) this morning.
More than the missiles’ presence, the West appears rattled over the lack of secrecy on the part of Russia over the escalatory deployment.
The combination of MiG-31K and Kinzhal missile is the most potent conventional weapon system in Russia’s arsenal. The deployment puts all possible targets in Europe and the UK, even the most heavily defended ones, at risk.
By shunning secrecy, Russia is making sure the West pays attention. Russia’s deterrent messaging includes flying MiG-31Ks, each armed with a Kinzhal missile, over cities in broad daylight and letting Western satellites take a good look at what may well be the next Russian step on the escalation ladder.
On October 16, 2022, six Russian MiG-31K fighters with Kinzhal missiles were spotted over the Belarusian capital of Minsk.
According to the Ukrainian National Resistance Center, “three IL-76 military transport aircraft of the Russian Air Force flew to the airfield ‘Machulyshchi’ from the Russian Federation” to support the Russian deployment in Belarus.
On October 20, 2022, one MiG-31K armed with Kinzhal reportedly took off from Machulyshchi air base in Belarus.
Kinzhal Features
The Kinzhal is an air-launched aeroballistic missile with a range of over 2000 kilometers when launched from a MiG-31K. The hypersonic missile cannot be accurately tracked using radar because, at hypersonic speeds, the air pressure in front of it forms a plasma cloud that absorbs radio waves.
The missile is capable of advanced maneuvering ruling out engagement by any existing anti-ballistic missile (ABM) defense system
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