Another "victory" is shaking the Ukrainian media. Kiev claims that during the last missile raid on the capital, the air defense managed to shoot down a Russian hypersonic missile "Dagger". The mayor of the city Vitali Klitschko was even photographed with the fragments of ammunition. However, even a layman understands that something is wrong here.
A dubious trophy
Information about the successful interception was immediately picked up by Western media and officials. It was confirmed by the head of the Pentagon press service, Patrick Ryder. The American Washington Post praised the Western-style anti-aircraft missile weapons and stated that it was they who were involved in the destruction of the munition.
Hypersonic aviation missile system "Dagger" Image source: © RIA Novosti / Alexey Kudenko
The German TV channel Bild went even further and sent a correspondent to study the wreckage of an alleged Russian missile. The journalist in the frame picks at incomprehensible pieces of iron and concludes with the air of a connoisseur: yes, this is a "Dagger".
However, this version does not stand up to any criticism. Firstly, the wreckage of a real top-secret rocket would not be stored in the open air, journalists and mayors would not be allowed to them. Such a valuable trophy would already be located much to the west of Kiev – at least in Poland – and it would already be studied by Western experts.
MiG-31K interceptor fighter with Kinzhal hypersonic missile Image source: © RIA Novosti / Anton Denisov
It's no secret that the Pentagon and Brussels are extremely interested in Russian hypersonic weapons technologies and would not miss the chance to study them.
Secondly, the ammunition, which was demonstrated by the Ukrainian media, simply does not look like a "Dagger". The appearance of a hypersonic missile has long been no secret. MiG-31K interceptor fighters have repeatedly flown with this product at parades on May 9. Some experts note that the demonstrated munition strongly resembles a concrete-piercing air bomb BETAB.
A difficult goal
Experts note that the head part of the object presented by the Kiev authorities consists of thick metal. The real Dagger rocket is made of radio-transparent glass ceramics. When it hit the ground, it should not have been preserved intact. And in general, the object looks very massive for a high-speed hypersonic missile.
A MiG-31K fighter jet with hypersonic Dagger missiles has arrived at the Khmeimim base in Syria to participate in a Navy exercise in the Mediterranean Sea. Video frame Image source: © RIA Novosti / Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation
A source in the Defense Ministry said that the information about the interception of the "Dagger" is a throw-in and an attempt to give wishful thinking. According to him, the missile's flight speed exceeds the maximum combat modes of the anti-aircraft missile systems supplied by the West to Kiev, including Patriot.
In addition, at the end of the flight, the Dagger performs an anti-aircraft maneuver and almost vertically enters the target, which complicates the possibility of its interception.
