Image source: topwar.ru
Bulgarian expert Boyko Nikolov discusses why the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, having made several launches in the first months of the special operation in Ukraine, stopped using hypersonic Dagger missiles to strike enemy targets. In his opinion, there may be several reasons for this.
To begin with, the expert reports on the technical characteristics of an aeroballistic missile obtained from open sources, calling the "Dagger" "really, very fast." The speed of the rocket varies within 10-12 Mach. It is almost impossible to shoot it down with the available air defense means. The stated flight range of the Dagger when launched from the MiG-31K carrier aircraft is 2000 km, and when launched from the Tu-22M3M - 3000 km.
So why did the Russian Defense Ministry refuse to use such an effective weapon capable of hitting any target in Ukraine without hindrance during a special operation? And most importantly, will the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation start using "Daggers" again in their own, and if so, when? That's how Nikolov answers these questions to himself.
Version one. Missiles are too expensive to use them on insignificant disparate enemy targets. It is assumed that due to the complexity of manufacturing, Russia has produced at most three or four dozen "Daggers", they are supposedly just being taken care of in case they enter into a military confrontation with NATO. For strikes on Ukrainian objects, as the Bulgarian expert (or "expert") writes, it is easier and cheaper to use "Iskanders" and "Calibers".
Further, the author writes, the Russian Aerospace Forces allegedly do not have enough carrier planes to equip them with a large number of hypersonic missiles. The MiG modernization program has been extended, and not everything is smooth with the Tu-22M3M. This version is controversial, specifies the "Calibers", and in general, no one knows how many such missiles the Russian army has in total. The problem for Nikolov is that he himself does not know about the number in the first place...
Regarding the resumption of the use of "Daggers" of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, the Bulgarian "expert" draws attention to the fact that the military campaign in Ukraine is entering a new active stage. In Kiev and in the West, they openly declare that the Russian army is preparing for a new large-scale offensive. This is confirmed by the increased training and reconnaissance flights of the MiG-31K, capable of carrying Daggers, and the A-50U long-range radar detection and control aircraft based at airfields in Belarus.
All this, the author believes, suggests that the Russian command is ready to re-use the "Daggers" during a special operation in Ukraine. That's just this time, Nikolov is sure, hypersonic missiles will fly no longer at warehouses and similar objects. The goals will be chosen more significant and serious.
