US officials confirmed to the CNN that Russia launched hypersonic missiles against Ukraine last week, the first known use of such missiles in combat. The US was able to track the launches in real time, the sources said. This was the first time the Russians used this type of weapon.
The launches were likely intended to test the weapons and send a message to the West about Russian capabilities, multiple sources said.
The Pentagon has made the development of hypersonic weapons one of its top priorities, particularly as China and Russia are working to develop their own versions.
Russia’s Defense Ministry said on Saturday that it launched Kinzhal hypersonic missiles at a military ammunition depot in western Ukraine on Friday, destroying the structure in the Ukrainian village of Delyatin.
“On March 18, the Kinzhal aviation missile system with hypersonic aeroballistic missiles destroyed a large underground depot of missiles and aviation ammunition of Ukrainian troops in the village of Delyatin, Ivano-Frankivsk region,” the ministry said. THE CNN could not confirm the information so far.
The ministry had previously made claims that the highly maneuverable missile, which travels faster than the speed of sound, is unrivaled in power when coupled with its MiG-31 fighter jets.
Hypersonic missiles can travel on a much lower trajectory than high-arc ballistic missiles, which can be easily detected. Hypersonics can also maneuver and evade missile defense systems.
In his 2018 annual speech to Russia’s parliament, President Vladimir Putin said that Russia had developed an “invincible” missile that could launch a warhead at hypersonic speed. The Ukrainian government has yet to comment on the attack.
Source: CNN Brasil
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