CAPF AC 2022 Q73: Current Affairs – International Conflicts & Security
- (a) China
- (b) France
- (c) Russia
- (d) USA
Answer: (c) Russia
Explanation
Kinzhal hypersonic missile
How to think: Kinzhal is a Russian word meaning dagger.
Russia used this missile in Ukraine in March 2022, the first known use of a hypersonic missile in war.
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Country | Russia |
| Full name | Kh-47M2 Kinzhal |
| Type | Air-launched hypersonic ballistic missile |
| Launched from | MiG-31K aircraft |
| Speed | Claimed up to Mach 10 |
| Warhead | Conventional or nuclear |
Other Russian hypersonic weapons: Avangard (glide vehicle) and Zircon (ship-launched cruise missile).
Other countries: China has the DF-17; India is developing the HSTDV and BrahMos-II.
Answer: (c) Russia.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Incorrect. China's hypersonic weapon is the DF-17.
- (b) Incorrect. France has no missile of this name.
- (c) CORRECT. The Kh-47M2 Kinzhal belongs to Russia.
- (d) Incorrect. The USA was still testing its hypersonic weapons in 2022.
Key point
Hypersonic = above Mach 5. Russia: Kinzhal (air-launched, MiG-31K), Avangard (glide vehicle), Zircon (cruise). China: DF-17. India: HSTDV (DRDO), BrahMos-II planned. Kinzhal means dagger.
Remember
Kinzhal (dagger): Russia, air-launched hypersonic missile.
Common mistakes
- Mixing up Kinzhal (air-launched) with Zircon (ship-launched).
- Marking China because of its hypersonic glide vehicle tests in 2021.
- Thinking hypersonic means only very fast; it also means hard to intercept.
Exam tip
Educated guess: the designation Kh- is the Russian label for air-launched missiles, like Kh-31 and Kh-59. The word Kinzhal is also plainly Russian.
Sources
- Center for Strategic and International Studies, Missile Threat — Kh-47M2 Kinzhal
- BBC News — Russia claims first use of hypersonic Kinzhal missile in Ukraine (March 2022)