Polish fighter jets mobilized amid Russian air assault on Ukraine
The Operational Command of the Armed Forces has announced that fighter jets have been scrambled in Poland, and ground-based air defense systems are on high alert. This move is in response to a large-scale Russian attack on Ukraine, which includes the deployment of the Russian MiG-31K fighter jet.
9:26 AM EST, December 13, 2024
"Attention: Due to yet another attack by the Russian Federation involving cruise missiles, ballistic missiles, and unmanned aerial vehicles targeting areas, including those in western Ukraine, military aviation operations have been initiated within our airspace," the Operational Command of the Armed Forces announced on Friday morning.
The aircraft causing alarm in Ukraine
According to media reports, Russian forces have employed a significant number of missile rockets. Additionally, the Russian Federation launched a MiG-31K fighter jet. The mere takeoff of one such aircraft from a Russian airbase is enough to trigger alarms in the territory under defense. These concerns are justified, as the MiG-31K can carry Kh-47 Kinzhal hypersonic missiles with a range of about 1,240 miles.
Kinzhal missiles
While the combat effectiveness of the Kinzhal missiles has been debated since the war's onset, they remain a considerable challenge for Ukraine's air defense. The Kinzhal measures about 23 feet in length and weighs approximately 9,920 lbs, with a potential speed of up to 10 Mach; however, more realistic estimates suggest 8 Mach, or about 6,090 mph. This makes the missile one of the most formidable weapons in the current Russian arsenal.
It's important to note that the Kinzhals are used by the Russians with regularity, causing alarms in Ukraine each time. It's unclear how many of these missiles the Russian Federation has, but estimates from September 2024—as cited by "Forbes" and confirmed by Ukrainian intelligence—suggest Moscow had about 55 of these missiles available. Monthly production is thought to be between 2 and 6 units.
