Ukrainian defence intelligence discloses details of Russian Kinzhal aeroballistic missile

Defence Intelligence of Ukraine (DIU) has posted an interactive 3D model, information on the components and manufacturers involved in the production of the Russian 9-S-7760 aeroballistic missile, better known as the Kh-47M2 Kinzhal.

Source: DIU; War&Sanctions portal

Quote from DIU: "The Kinzhal is a single-stage solid-propellant missile with an integrated warhead. In terms of components, the missile shares 90% of its components with the 9M723 ballistic missile used in the Iskander-M short-range ballistic missile system."

Details: DIU pointed out that the main differences of this missile include the presence of a tail fairing that detaches after engine launch, an active radar seeker (in the Iskander, an active radar seeker currently exists only on paper and its use in strikes against Ukrainian territory has not been recorded), which the Russians calls "all-weather", and an active jamming station, in addition to the S-200 decoy dispensing system.

Aeroballistic missile 9-S-7760 Kinzhal (Kh-47M2). Photos: War&Sanctions.

Quote from DIU: "The Kinzhal has two types of warhead: a penetrating high-explosive warhead in a thick metal casing for breaching floor slabs, concrete and fortified structure; and a special nuclear warhead. The enemy is currently working on a modification with a high-explosive fragmentation warhead. These changes may be directly linked to problems with the missile's guidance accuracy, as high precision is especially vital for a penetrating warhead. It is precisely because of this that the enemy significantly reduced state defence orders for these missiles, redirecting production capacity and supplies of components and raw materials towards the production of 9M723 Iskander-M ballistic missiles."

Details: The intelligence service cited the limited lifespan of carrier platforms – MiG-31I interceptor fighters and their predecessor, the MiG-31K, which the Russian's aviation industry is no longer producing – as the second reason for this reprioritisation.

DIU also published data on 58 Russian companies involved in the production supply chain for the Kh-47M2 Kinzhal aeroballistic missiles. Significantly, 22 of them are still not subject to sanctions from any of the countries in the sanctions coalition.

Quote from DIU: "Despite individual shortcomings, Russia is continuing to work on modernising the Kinzhal. To thwart the aggressor's plans, sanctions against all the companies involved must be synchronised and control over technologies actively used by Russia must be tightened."

Background: DIU previously identified an NVIDIA Jetson Orin computer module in the S-71 Monochrome, a new Russian cruise missile. The use of this component may indicate that artificial intelligence technologies are being implemented in the missile.

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