Russian MiG-31K Aircraft Deployed to Syrian Base with Kinzhal Hypersonic Missiles

Russian MiG-31K Aircraft Deployed to Syrian Base with Kinzhal Hypersonic Missiles

Russian MiG-31K fighters, armed with Kinzhal Hypersonic missiles began overflights in the Mediterranean taking off from a base Syria, as part of a joint exercise between the country’s Aerospace Forces and the Navy.

A statement by the Russian MoD said, “As part of the exercise at the Russian Khmeimim airbase in the Syrian Arab Republic, a pair of MiG-31K aircraft flew from Russian airfields, which have the ability to use the latest hypersonic missiles from the Dagger complex,” the Russian MoD said in a statement.

Official photos and videos released by the Russian MoD of the exercises show the MiG-31K taking off with a large missile strapped to its fuselage. The image matches that of previous photos of  Kinzhal hypersonic missile shown by the Russian MoD.

The MiG-31K is modified to launch the Kinzhal Hypersonic missile. The ‘K’ designation is believed to be standing for ‘Kinzhal.’ The MiG-31 is the fastest fighter jet in the world with a maximum speed of Mach 2.8 and can cruise at altitude of 60,000 feet. It can launch the Kinzhal missile whose range of 2000 km, and flying speed of Mach 6-7 will strike its target without the fear of being struck by an air defense battery such as the American PATRIOT.