New Delhi: Russia has used its latest hypersonic missile called ‘kinjhali‘ to destroy an arms storage site in the western region of Ukraine as it majorly escalated its offensive into the country.
State news service RIA Novosti said the claimed strike marked the first use of a nuclear-capable advanced weapon system in the Ukraine war.
Here’s what you need to know about the hypersonic missile
* According to the US-based think tank Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), Kinjal is a nuclear-capable air-launched ballistic missile that can fly at 10 times the speed of sound and can cross air-defense systems. Is. , Kinjal means ‘dagger’.
The missile has a range of about 1,500-2,000 km and can carry a nuclear payload or a conventional payload of 480 kg.
* The length of the Kinjal is 8 meters, the body diameter is 1 meter and the launch weight is approximately 4,300 kg.
* This is the first time Russia has admitted to using high-precision weapons in war.
* The Kinjal was one of a series of new weapons unveiled by Russian President Vladimir Putin in his State of the Nation address in 2018. Putin called Kinzel “an ideal weapon”.
* After launch, according to CSIS, the Kinjal accelerates rapidly to Mach 4 (4,900 km/h), and can reach speeds of up to Mach 10 (12,350 km/h).
* The missile’s speed, with its erratic flight trajectory and high maneuverability, could complicate interception.
* CSIS states that Russia’s designation of the Kinjal as a “hypersonic” missile is somewhat misleading, as nearly all ballistic missiles reach hypersonic speeds (ie above Mach 5) at some point during their flight.
What is a hypersonic weapon?
According to Bloomberg, they are generally defined as fast, low-flying and highly maneuverable weapons, which are designed to be too fast and agile to be detected in time for conventional missile defense systems. .
Unlike ballistic missiles, hypersonic weapon Do not follow a predetermined, arched trajectory and may maneuver on the way to your destination, according to the Congressional Research Service.
The term “hypersonic” describes a speed five times faster than sound, which is approximately 760 miles (1,220 km) per hour at sea level, meaning that these weapons can travel at least 3,800 mph. .
At hypersonic speeds, the air molecules around the flying vehicle begin to change, break down or become charged in a process called ionization. This subjects the hypersonic vehicle to “tremendous” stress as it pushes through the atmosphere, according to a 2018 US Army paper.
Types of hypersonic weapons
There are two main types of these weapons – glide vehicles and cruise missiles.
Much of the attention is focused on the former, which are launched from rockets before gliding on their targets due to the challenges of achieving hypersonic propulsion of missiles.
Missiles have engines called scramjets that use oxygen from the air and generate thrust during their flight, allowing them to cruise at a constant speed and altitude.
Who has these weapons?
The US, China and Russia have the most advanced capabilities, and several other countries are testing the technology, including India, Japan, Australia, France, Germany and North Korea, which claim to have tested a hypersonic missile.
In fact, India is also trying to have such weapons in its arsenal. Last year, India successfully test-fired its Hypersonic Technology Demonstrator Vehicle (HSTDV) powered by scramjet engine.
The HSTDV will serve as an important building block in the development of long-range hypersonic weapons, which will take at least four to five years to become a reality.
(with inputs from agencies)
State news service RIA Novosti said the claimed strike marked the first use of a nuclear-capable advanced weapon system in the Ukraine war.
Here’s what you need to know about the hypersonic missile
* According to the US-based think tank Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), Kinjal is a nuclear-capable air-launched ballistic missile that can fly at 10 times the speed of sound and can cross air-defense systems. Is. , Kinjal means ‘dagger’.
The missile has a range of about 1,500-2,000 km and can carry a nuclear payload or a conventional payload of 480 kg.
* The length of the Kinjal is 8 meters, the body diameter is 1 meter and the launch weight is approximately 4,300 kg.
* This is the first time Russia has admitted to using high-precision weapons in war.
* The Kinjal was one of a series of new weapons unveiled by Russian President Vladimir Putin in his State of the Nation address in 2018. Putin called Kinzel “an ideal weapon”.
* After launch, according to CSIS, the Kinjal accelerates rapidly to Mach 4 (4,900 km/h), and can reach speeds of up to Mach 10 (12,350 km/h).
* The missile’s speed, with its erratic flight trajectory and high maneuverability, could complicate interception.
* CSIS states that Russia’s designation of the Kinjal as a “hypersonic” missile is somewhat misleading, as nearly all ballistic missiles reach hypersonic speeds (ie above Mach 5) at some point during their flight.
What is a hypersonic weapon?
According to Bloomberg, they are generally defined as fast, low-flying and highly maneuverable weapons, which are designed to be too fast and agile to be detected in time for conventional missile defense systems. .
Unlike ballistic missiles, hypersonic weapon Do not follow a predetermined, arched trajectory and may maneuver on the way to your destination, according to the Congressional Research Service.
The term “hypersonic” describes a speed five times faster than sound, which is approximately 760 miles (1,220 km) per hour at sea level, meaning that these weapons can travel at least 3,800 mph. .
At hypersonic speeds, the air molecules around the flying vehicle begin to change, break down or become charged in a process called ionization. This subjects the hypersonic vehicle to “tremendous” stress as it pushes through the atmosphere, according to a 2018 US Army paper.
Types of hypersonic weapons
There are two main types of these weapons – glide vehicles and cruise missiles.
Much of the attention is focused on the former, which are launched from rockets before gliding on their targets due to the challenges of achieving hypersonic propulsion of missiles.
Missiles have engines called scramjets that use oxygen from the air and generate thrust during their flight, allowing them to cruise at a constant speed and altitude.
Who has these weapons?
The US, China and Russia have the most advanced capabilities, and several other countries are testing the technology, including India, Japan, Australia, France, Germany and North Korea, which claim to have tested a hypersonic missile.
In fact, India is also trying to have such weapons in its arsenal. Last year, India successfully test-fired its Hypersonic Technology Demonstrator Vehicle (HSTDV) powered by scramjet engine.
The HSTDV will serve as an important building block in the development of long-range hypersonic weapons, which will take at least four to five years to become a reality.
(with inputs from agencies)