5. Russia's Kinzhal Air-Launched Ballistic Missile
In air-launched hypersonic weapon technology, the Kinzhal (Dagger) marks a major accomplishment. Built for launch from MiG-31 interceptors and Tu-22M3 bombers, this system combines cruise missile manoeuvrability with ballistic missile speed. Reported range of the weapon is more than 2,000 km and it can reach Mach 10 speeds. Extreme manoeuvrability over its flight path made possible by its unusual design makes it quite effective against land and marine targets. While its speed and flight profile make intercepting the Kinzhal somewhat challenging with conventional air defence systems, its advanced guiding system guarantees great accuracy attacks. Russia's strategic capability has been much improved by the operational deployment of the weapon, which also proves the potency of air-launched hypersonic systems.
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