Russia will use upgraded MiG-31I to launch Kinzhal missiles

Defense Express reported the information.

The agency stated that Russia will now use advanced MiG-31I fighter jets to launch the Kh-47M2 Kinzhal aerial ballistic missile. Military analysts are wary, as they believe the threat looks more than real.

Russia first announced the existence of the new MiG-31I fighter back in August 2022.

"The most important difference between the MiG-31I and its predecessor in the MiG-31K modification is that while on the second type of aircraft, pilots must manually enter the necessary data into the onboard equipment to launch Kinzhal missiles, on the first type of aircraft, the onboard equipment allegedly allows "automatic launch of Kinzhals without pilot participation" according to the specified parameters," military analysts say.

If this claimed characteristic of the MiG-31I is true, it means that now Russian troops will be able to hit the military and civilian infrastructure of Ukraine with the Kinzhal missiles much more accurately.

• Air raid alarms are instantly activated across Ukraine when a MiG-31 takes off with an Kh-47M2 Kinzhal missile onboard, which is a Russian aerial ballistic missile that can carry a nuclear payload. Espreso will explain the history and characteristics of this missile, which, according to the Russians, "has no analogues."