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Russia to continue mass production of Kinzhal hypersonic systems — Putin

The President of Russia announced this in his video congratulations on Defender of the Fatherland Day

MOSCOW, February 23. /TASS/. Russia will continue the mass production of Kinzhal air-based hypersonic missiles, Russian President Vladimir Putin said in a video address published on the Kremlin website on the occasion of Defender of the Fatherland Day.

"We will continue the serial production of Kinzhal air-based hypersonic systems," the Russian leader said.

The Kinzhal is the Russian state-of-the-art airborne system with hypersonic aero-ballistic missiles. Russian MiG-31K and MiG-31I fighter-interceptors have been chosen as the carriers of Kinzhal hypersonic missiles that feature radar stealth and high maneuverability and are designed to engage ground and naval targets.

The Kinzhal hypersonic missile can accelerate to ten times the speed of sound and strike targets at a range of over 2,000 km. The missile is capable of maneuvering along the entire flight path and breaching any air and anti-ballistic missile defenses. The missile can be outfitted with both conventional and nuclear warheads weighing 500 kg.

The Kinzhal airborne hypersonic missile systems have been on combat alert in the Russian Armed Forces since December 2017. Kinzhal hypersonic missiles underwent their baptism of fire in the special military operation in Ukraine on March 18, 2022.

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