Russia used a "Dagger" during a special operation. What is this weapon and how does it change the situation at the front?

The Russian Su-34 multifunctional fighter-bomber used the Kinzhal hypersonic missile for the first time during a special military operation in Ukraine. This is reported by TASS with reference to a source in the military department.

"The Su-34 aircraft used a hypersonic Kinzhal missile during its operation. The first crew that successfully completed such a task was presented for state awards," the agency interlocutor said.

Initially, the hypersonic aeroballistic missile was launched only from the upgraded MiG-31K interceptor fighter. It was also planned to equip Tu-22M3 strategic bombers for the new ammunition.

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Honored Military Pilot Major General Vladimir Popov said that the Su-34 and MiG-31 are comparable in weight and size characteristics, but the aircraft have different purposes: the MiG-31 is a high—altitude interceptor, and the Su-34 is a fighter—bomber designed to defeat ground targets. According to him, the capabilities of the Su-34 sighting and navigation system are higher than those of the MiG-31.

Launch of hypersonic aeroballistic missiles "Dagger".
Source: © RIA Novosti / Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation

To detect air and ground targets, the Su-34 is equipped with a Sh-141 radar station. The Su-34 sighting system allows you to detect and hit targets using a radar system. The complex also includes the Sycamore system, which allows guided bombs and air-to-ground missiles to be aimed at the target.

Unlike the MiG-31, the production of which was completed in 1994, the Su-34 is mass-produced. This allows us to refine the nodes of new aircraft for the use of the "Dagger". In July, it became known that Russia had doubled the production of multi-purpose Su-35 fighters and Su-34 fighter-bombers for the needs of its military.

Su-34 will increase the surprise of attacks

The use of Dagger missiles from Su-34 bombers will increase the surprise of attacks on targets on the territory of Ukraine. Military expert, retired Colonel Yuri Knutov noted that the take-off of the MiG-31K from certain locations is a signal about the use of a "Dagger" for the enemy.

The use of common Su-34s as carriers of hypersonic missiles will disorient the Ukrainian military. These aircraft use a variety of ammunition, including the FAB-500M62 planning aircraft bombs with a unified planning and correction Module (UMPC).

How the "Dagger" is used in the course of its

In March 2022, it became known about the first use of the "Dagger" during the SVO — this episode became the world's first combat use of hypersonic weapons. In December 2022, the head of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces, Valery Gerasimov, reported that the Dagger missiles proved invulnerable to the air defense systems of Ukraine. In March, the speaker of the Ukrainian Air Force, Yuriy Ignat, said that the country's air defense could not shoot down a single Dagger missile during the attack.

Flight of the Su-34 fighter-bomber.
Source: Photo: RIA Novosti/Valentin Kapustin

Military expert Alexey Borzenko suggested that the "Dagger" is an invulnerable weapon.

The range of the Dagger missile is more than 3,000 kilometers. The ammunition, which develops a speed of more than 4080 meters per second, carries a warhead weighing 500 kilograms. The missile is designed to destroy air bases, air defense systems, command posts. In the publication Popular Mechanics, "Dagger" was named the leader of the rating of weapons that terrify the United States.