Russia’s Kinzhal missile: A hypersonic bluff or a real threat?

Russia has been boasting about its Kinzhal missile, a hypersonic air-launched ballistic missile that can allegedly fly at Mach 10 and evade any existing air defense system. However, recent reports from China and Ukraine have cast doubt on the effectiveness and reliability of this weapon, which may be nothing more than a repurposed Cold War-era design.

According to Chinese military analysts, the Kinzhal is based on the Iskander-M, a short-range ballistic missile that dates back to the 1980s. They claim that the Kinzhal lacks the ability to glide and maneuver in the atmosphere, unlike true hypersonic weapons such as the Zircon or the Avangard. They also point to the evidence that the Ukrainian air force has successfully intercepted several Kinzhals using the Patriot PAC-3 system, which is widely deployed by the US and its allies.

The Kinzhal may be a sign of Russia’s desperation to regain its military edge over the West, especially in the context of the ongoing war in Ukraine. Russia has been using the Kinzhal as a propaganda tool to intimidate its adversaries and to showcase its technological prowess. However, by overhyping its capabilities, Russia may also be exposing its weaknesses and inviting more scrutiny and countermeasures from its rivals.

The Kinzhal is not a game-changer in the global balance of power, nor is it a guarantee of Russia’s victory in Ukraine. It is a risky and costly weapon that may not deliver the desired results. Russia would be better off investing in more conventional and proven means of warfare, such as diplomacy, economic cooperation, and conflict resolution.