According to the Ministry of Defence, Russia has deployed MiG-31K armed with Kinzhal (NATO nomenclature: AS-24 KILLJOY) air-launched hypersonic missiles to a Belarus base for the first time.
The MoD said, while updating of the Ukraine war where they shared a satellite image which shows two Russian warplanes, along with a well-protected container believed to be storing missiles.
The image was taken on October 18, which shows what MoD analysts believe are MiG-31K jets, as well as a possible canister containing Kinzhal hypersonic missiles at Machulishchy Airfield, just outside of Minsk.
The MoD said, “Russia has occasionally launched these weapons during the Ukraine war, but stocks are likely very limited.
The MiG-31K has a range of more than 1,200 miles, which was specially developed to carry the missiles.
The Kinzhal was first used during the ongoing Russian Special Military Operation (SMO) in March 2022 when it struck a military fuel depot near the southern Ukrainian city of Mykolaiv.
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