At the military’s behest, Russian defense corporations have commenced large-scale production of Kinzhal missiles, thereby concluding the process of refining their prior capabilities.
On July 10, Vladimir Artyakov, the deputy director of Rostec arms corporation, stated that the Kinzhal hypersonic missile production line has transitioned from a small-scale focus on research and development to mass production. This shift aims to fulfill the quantity and quality requirements of the Russian Defense Ministry. Rostec Corporation, a prominent Russian defense enterprise, specializes in manufacturing military aircraft, artillery, high-precision weapons, communication equipment, electronic warfare complexes, and various other armaments.
Deputy Director Artyakov confidently declared that existing air defense systems are currently incapable of intercepting Kinzhal missiles. He dismissed claims by Ukraine regarding the successful shooting down of Russian hypersonic missiles, labeling them as part of the enemy’s propaganda efforts.
According to a statement by a Rostec official, the production of Su-30, Su-34, and Su-35S fighters has been increased twofold by aviation enterprises. This expansion aims to fulfill the requirements of the Russian operation in Ukraine.
The production rate of Kinzhal missiles has never been officially announced by Russia. However, according to Ukraine’s Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov’s statement in May, the Russian army is now receiving 10 Kinzhal missiles per month, which is five times higher than the previous rate. Western military experts estimate that Russia possesses at least 80 operational Kinzhal missiles. Ukraine has claimed on multiple occasions that they have successfully intercepted and destroyed all Kinzhal hypersonic missiles that Russia deployed in attacks on the capital city of Kyiv.
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu has claimed that Ukraine frequently exaggerates the number of Kinzhal missiles launched towards Kyiv. According to Shoigu, the enemy often struggles to identify the specific type of missile employed by Russia, resulting in their inability to intercept the intended target. Hypersonic missiles, such as the Kinzhal, possess a minimum speed of five times the speed of sound, surpassing 6,200 km/h. Due to their intricate flight paths and exceptionally high velocities, these hypersonic weapons pose increased lethality and present a formidable challenge for contemporary defensive systems. The Kinzhal hypersonic missile is among the six super weapons unveiled by Russian President Putin in 2018.
