US confirms MIM-104 Patriot destroyed Kh-47 Killjoy hypersonic missile for the first time
Last week, the Ukrainian Air Force officially announced that the MIM-104 Patriot air defence system had destroyed the Russian Kh-47 Kinzhal (NATO-codified Killjoy) hypersonic missile. This has now been confirmed by a US official. But so far unofficially.
Here's What We Know
Patriot is capable of destroying ballistic missiles, but until recently the possibility of intercepting hypersonic targets was only theoretical. Although it should be noted that the X-47 Killjoy is technically an airborne ballistic missile.
Kinzhal vs Patriot
- Oleksii Reznikov (@oleksiireznikov) May 7, 2023
By @KpsZSU ✊
russian propaganda attempts to impose the narrative that russian weapons are the best in the world and one-of-a-kind ("no analogues").
That's a big mistake.
The Patriot system, a new powerful tool of Ukrainian air defense, shot down a Kh-47... pic.twitter.com/jLoAO518HA
It is launched by a MiG-31K aircraft, after which the missile attacks the target along a ballistic trajectory. It has a top speed of Mach 10 (more than 12,000 km/h), but unlike the X-47's full-fledged hypersonic missiles, the Killjoy cannot maintain that speed at all times.
The US is "very confident" in the accuracy of the Ukrainian Air Force command's statement. This was reported by CNN, citing an official familiar with the situation who agreed to speak on condition of anonymity. The destruction of the Kh-47 Killjoy by the Patriot surface-to-air missile system is an important development for the US Department of Defense.
US specialists did not take part in the interception of the Russian hypersonic missile and did not advise the Ukrainian air defence forces. The official also noted that the crew that shot down the Kh-47 Killjoy was trained in Oklahoma City.
Source: CNN
