9 March, 2023
Modified MiG-31K fighter jet (board number “92 red”) with a Kinzhal hypersonic aero-ballistic missile, 2018. Photo credits: Russian media
On the night of March 9, Russia launched a massive missile attack on Ukraine. In total, the invaders launched 81 missiles of various types and 8 kamikaze drones.
The Ukrainian Air Force reported that the enemies launched six Kh-47 Kinzhal hypersonic missiles.
34 cruise missiles and 4 drones were destroyed by the Ukrainian Armed Forces in cooperation with the units of the Defense Forces of Ukraine.
It is reported that this night, the Russians used ten Tu-95 strategic bombers, seven Tu-22M3 long-range bomber jets, eight Su-35 multi-role fighter jets, six MiG-31K fighter jets, and three Kalibr cruise missile carriers in the Black Sea to launch missiles. They also used missiles from the S-300 air defense system to fire at ground targets. The Russian invaders attacked Ukraine’s critical infrastructure.
The Ukrainian Air Force reported that, in total, the aggressor country launched 81 missiles from various bases:
- 28 Kh-101/Kh-555 air-launched cruise missile launches;
- 20 Kalibr sea-launched cruise missile launches;
- 6 Kh-22 air-launched cruise missile launches;
- 6 Kh-47 Kinzhal air-launched cruise missile launches;
- 8 guided air missile launches: 2 – Kh-31P, 6 – Kh-59;
- 13 S-300 long-range surface-to-air missile launches.
Besides, eight Shahed-136/131 kamikaze drones were launched.
Casualties were reported, and critical infrastructure objects were hit as a result of the attack. Emergency power cuts are applied in a number of Ukrainian regions.
It is reported that the Ukrainian air defense forces destroyed 34 cruise missiles out of 48 Kh-101/Kh-555 and Kalibr cruise missiles launched over Ukraine and 4 Shahed-136/131 UAVs.
“8 Kh-31P and Kh-59 guided air missiles did not reach their targets as a result of the organized countermeasures,” the Ukrainian Air Force emphasized.
However, the Air Force Command noted that currently, the Armed Forces of Ukraine have no means capable of intercepting Russian Kh-22 and Kh-47 Kinzhal air-launched missiles, as well as anti-aircraft missiles of the S-300/400 systems, which the Russians use to fire at ground objects on the territory of Ukraine.
Kh-47M2 Kinzhal is a Russian hypersonic aviation missile. The Kinzhal missile is similar to the Iskander short-range ballistic missiles in terms of dimensions and appearance. The maximum speed of the missile is 10 M. MiG-31К is capable of carrying one such missile and hitting targets at a distance of up to 2000 km.
Kh-22 is a Soviet supersonic cruise long-range anti-ship missile. It is part of the K-22 aircraft missile system and is intended to destroy radar-contrast points and group targets. The warhead contains 960 kg of explosives.
https://mil.in.ua/en/news/missile-attack-on-ukraine-81-missiles-including-six-kh-47-kinzhal-ukrainian-air-force/
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