UCRANIA
Patriot intercepta misiles hipersónicos Kinzhal
May 17, 2023 - Rusia alcanzó, aunque posiblemente no destruyó, una batería Patriot luego de que Ucrania dijera que usó el sistema misilístico de defensa fabricado en EUA para derribar seis misiles hipersónicos Kinzhal.
Hypersonic missiles travel at up to ten times the speed of sound, and are designed to evade missile defence systems, partly through their speed, low trajectory, and manoeuvrability, and also due to the formation of a plasma cloud in front of the missile which interferes with radar waves.
Russia claims it is impossible for a Patriot system to intercept a Kinzhal travelling at hypersonic speeds.The optimum point at which to intercept a Kinzhal would be shortly after launch, before it has attained hypersonic speed or begun evasive manoeuvres. The range of the Patriot radar is only 150km, well below the Kinzhal maximum launch range of 2,000km.
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