Russia Deploys Aircraft Armed With Hypersonic Missiles to Kaliningrad

Yesterday, the Russian Defense Ministry announced the deployment of three Mig-31’s armed with Kinzhal hypersonic missiles to the Kaliningrad exclave. “Starting from today, August 18, 2022, three MiG-31I aircraft with Kinzhal hypersonic missiles have redeployed to the Chkalovsk airfield in the Kaliningrad Region as part of additional strategic deterrence measures,” the ministry said in a statement. During the flight, the MiG-31I aircraft practiced interoperability with fighter jets of the 6th Air Force and Air Defense Army and the Baltic Fleet’s naval aviation planes, it said. “MiG-31I aircraft with Kinzhal airborne hypersonic systems will be on round-the-clock combat alert at the Chkalovsk airfield,” the statement added. The Kinzhal is reported to have a range of more than 2,000 km, putting almost all of NATO within striking range from Kaliningrad.