MOSCOW. March 1 (Interfax) - Russia has successfully completed tests of the Kinzhal high-precision hypersonic aviation and missile system, and introduced on an experimental basis in the Southern Military District on December 1, 2017, Russian President Vladimir Putin said.
"An important stage in the development of modern weapons systems is the creation of a high-precision hypersonic aviation missile system, which also, as you probably understand, has no analogues in the world. Tests of it have been successfully completed," he said in his address to the Federal Assembly.
Russia's new hypersonic aviation system is called Kinzhal, Putin said.
"Moreover, the system was put on experimental combat duty on airfields of the Southern Military District on December 1," the president said.
The unique flight and technical characteristics of the high-speed carrier plane make it possible to deliver missiles to the drop point within minutes, and the missile, which flies ten times faster than sound, maneuvers throughout the entire flight trajectory, he said.
That guarantees that the missile can overcome all existing and prospective air defense and missile defense systems, delivering nuclear and conventional warheads at a range of more than 2,000 kilometers, Putin said.