Kinzhal

Russia's air-launched aeroballistic missile derived from the Iskander — presented by Moscow as a hypersonic “Dagger” and first combat-tested over Ukraine, where its aura of invincibility was shattered by successful Patriot intercepts.

Overview

The Kh-47M2 Kinzhal (NATO reporting name AS-24 Killjoy) is a high-speed, air-launched aeroballistic missile that adapts the 9M723 quasi-ballistic missile of the Iskander-M system for launch from a modified MiG-31K interceptor. Pitched by the Kremlin in 2018 as one of its “next-generation” weapons and labeled “hypersonic,” the Kinzhal marries a solid-fuel rocket motor with a nuclear- or conventional-warhead and a claimed range of 1,500-2,000 km. Its operational inventory is small, and its combat debut in Ukraine exposed vulnerabilities that undercut the uninterceptable narrative.

Development

The Kinzhal emerged from the 9M723 missile developed by KBM Kolomna for the Iskander-M short-range ballistic missile system. The Tactical Missiles Corporation (KTRV) adapted the airframe for air launch by the MiG-31K, giving Russia a heavy stand-off strike missile that could reach targets deep inside contested airspace. President Vladimir Putin formally announced the system in March 2018 among a suite of advanced weapons, and it entered limited service with a handful of modified MiG-31Ks shortly thereafter, according to CSIS Missile Threat. The missile’s lineage means it inherits much of the Iskander’s guidance and propulsion architecture, while the high-speed, high-altitude launch profile extends its reach.

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