Russian state news agency TASS reported that Russia’s MiG-31 fighter jets carrying Kinzhal hypersonic missiles are ready for aerial patrols over the Black Sea.
TASS reported citing a source close to the Russian defense ministry, “In fulfillment of the political decision by the country’s leadership, MiG-31 aircraft with Kinzhal missiles are ready for patrolling in the airspace over the Black Sea and are just waiting for an order to come.”
According to the report, MiG-31 aircraft carrying Kinzhal hypersonic missiles will be escorted by Su-27 fighters in aerial patrols.
The Kinzhal hypersonic missiles carried by MiG-31K fighter jets that will patrol Black Sea waters will have the capacity to change target acquisition during the flight, the report added.
TASS reported quoting its source, “Now MiG-31K aircraft will start patrols in the Black Sea and Kinzhal missiles that they carry can be programmed directly from their board, i.e. programming will take place from the board of the aircraft and not from the ground, with retargeting during the flight.”
Earlier this month, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that the Russian Aerospace Forces would conduct patrols over the Black Sea with MiG-31 fighter jets armed with the Kinzhal hypersonic weapons.
Putin said as quoted by state news agency Interfax, “This is not a threat… Based on my instructions, the Russian Aerospace Forces will begin patrols on a permanent basis in the neutral zone of airspace over the Black Sea, and the MiG-31 aircraft will be armed with Kinzhal systems.”
The Russian President emphasized that this decision comes against the backdrop of the Middle East clash and how the US has deployed two aircraft carrier strike groups to the Eastern Mediterranean Sea.
