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Three MiG-31 aircraft with hypersonic Kinzhal missiles were deployed at the Chkalovsk airfield in the Kaliningrad region as part of Russia’s “additional strategic deterrence measures”.
On August 18, the Russian Ministry of Defense claimed that the aircraft with the Kinzhal ballistic missiles will be put in round-the-clock combat duty at the airfield. It was added that during their flight to the Kaliningrad region the aircraft worked out military interaction with the fighter aircraft of the Russian 6th Red Banner Leningrad Army of Air and Air Defence Forces and the naval aviation of the Baltic Fleet.
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The Kh-47M2 Kinzhal (from Russian: “Dagger”) is a nuclear-capable air-launched ballistic missile (ALBM). It has the range of over 2,000 km, the speed of ~Mach 10 speed, and is capable to perform evasive maneuvers at every stage of its flight. The missile can carry both conventional and nuclear warheads. The main carriers of the missile are MiG-31K fighter jets and Tu-22M3 long-range bombers. The Su-57 fifth generation fighter jet is also set to be capable to use the weapon. The Kh-47M2 Kinzhal was put on the experimental combat duty at air bases in Russia’s Southern Military District.
The Kinzhal missiles were already used by the Russian military in Syria and Ukraine.
MiG-31 takes off with Kinzhal missile attached. © Russia’s Ministry of Defense
In February, a pair of MiG-31s with weapons similar to Kinzhal were already temporarily transferred to the region. Now, the hypersonic complexes are permanently put on round-the-clock combat duty.
The deployment of Russian fighters with hypersonic Kinzhal missiles is a clear sign to the political West.
On August 19, the head of the Ministry of Defense of Lithuania commented on the Russian manoeuvres claiming that this deployment would not significantly affect the balance of power in the region.
Indeed, three aircraft with several hypersonic missiles do not pose a major threat to Europe. At the same time, they demonstrate the Russia’s readiness to raise the stakes. The sides are yet to define the limits of escalation.
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Earlier, Iskander-M high-precision missile complexes were the most long-range weapons deployed in the region. These cruise missiles can fly up to 500 km to protect the borders of the Kaliningrad region. In turn, Kinzhal missiles can fly up to 2000 km and are hard to be intercepted by European air defense means. Thus, the Russian military in Kaliningrad can even hit the western coast of Great Britain.
Russia’s decision to reinforce its positions in the Kaliningrad region is likely a response to the hostile claims and actions by several European countries. The recent statement by the Estonian authorities about their intention to turn the Baltic Sea into a “NATO inland sea” did not contribute to any detente. On August 15, an RC-135 RC-135 aircraft of the British Air Force violated the Russian airspace in the area of Cape Svyatoy Nos in the Barents Sea. The crew of the MiG-31bm aircraft of the Russian Aerospace Forces forced the reconnaissance aircraft out of the territory of the Russian Federation.
By sending the MiG-31 to Kaliningrad, Moscow demonstrates its readiness to accept the challenge and, in turn, raised the stakes in the ongoing confrontation with NATO.
