Russian Kh-47 Kinzhal missile flaws revealed in new attack on Ukraine

Defense Express reported the information.

Russia launched 4 missiles from MiG-31Ks based at the Savasleyka airbase in Russia’s Nizhny Novgorod region. The launches originated from Tula and Lipetsk regions, about 200 km from the Ukrainian border.

While one missile was intercepted heading towards Kyiv, the other 3 traveled approximately 900 kilometers aiming for an air base in the Kolomyia district of the Ivano-Frankivsk region. They missed their target and struck a civilian area, causing casualties. An 8-year-old boy was killed when one of the missiles hit near his family's home.

This incident highlighted a crucial flaw in the Kh-47 Kinzhal's accuracy. The distance from the only airfield in Kolomyia district to any house is about 1 km. According to the Defense Express experts, this indicates that, despite its "hypersonic" designation, the missile displayed a significant circular probable deviation, measuring around 1,000 meters when launched at a distance of about 900 km. This discrepancy can be attributed to the missile's guidance system, which proved less precise for striking point targets.

The error increase with flight range is a standard problem for inertial guidance systems, leading to larger deviations over longer distances. Interestingly, the Soviet Temp-S missile, adopted in the 1960s, demonstrated better accuracy than the Kh-47 Kinzhal. Despite its 900 km range, Temp-S had a "passport" circular probable deviation of 370 meters.

This inaccuracy raises doubts about the Kh-47 Kinzhal’s capability to fulfill its intended role, including the destruction of elements within US missile defense systems. Its inaccuracy makes it vulnerable to interception by systems like the Patriot PAC 3, and its inability to hit precise targets reduces its overall efficacy. Even in the context of a nuclear strike, the need for precision remains essential, particularly for highly protected launchers.