Recently, Ukrainian research institutes have found signs of the use of new Russian missiles in the Dniprovsky district of Kyiv. According to their claims, the Russian army may have applied the newly developed 3M22 Zircon hypersonic missile system to air strikes on Ukraine. This missile strike caused a huge crater in the ground and blew up a pile of power lines buried in the ground. Ukrainians speculate that the airstrike may have been aimed at power facilities in the area and would paralyze the power supply system in the city of Kyiv. However, the Russian army launched such an expensive **, I'm afraid it's not just to hit a bunch of wires.
The Zircon missile is a hypersonic missile that can reach 10 times the speed of sound, equivalent to 3,400 meters per second, which allows it to perform penetration sprints at breakout speeds. Moreover, the Zircon missile has a flight range of up to 1000 kilometers and is capable of delivering long-range strikes against targets in Ukraine, as long as it is equipped on the missile ships of the Black Sea Fleet. The launch of the Zircon missile undoubtedly increases the pressure and challenges of the Ukrainian air defense missile system.
However, the Ukrainians did not consider this missile attack to be 100% successful. They believe that the missile may have been detected by Ukrainian air defense missile systems during the final flight and successfully intercepted over Kyiv. The Ukrainian military stressed that the missile hit the street ground in Kyiv and blew up a bunch of wires, which is not in line with a normal missile attack target. One possibility is that there is a problem with the missile's accuracy, and although the Zircon missile can fly at 10 times the speed of sound, too fast can also mean that a small deviation can cause the missile to deviate from the target by a few hundred meters. Another possibility is that the missile missed due to its long-range range during launch. Kyiv is relatively far from the Russian-Ukrainian border, and if it is a long-range launch of Zircon, deviations are also possible.
The Ukrainian military deduced that it was a Zircon missile by judging the "3M22" logo on the wreckage of the missile, as well as details such as the engine and steering settings. Although the inference is not 100% accurate, Ukrainians believe that the attack is likely to be the first actual combat of the Zircon missile.
As the Ukrainians deal with the Russian missile threat, they have the support of the United States and receive advanced air defense from the United States**. One of the most striking is the Patriot anti-missile system, which is an advanced missile defense equipment. However, the Ukrainians have discovered that this high-end air defense ** provided by the United States is not a panacea.
The Ukrainian military tried to use the Patriot anti-missile system to intercept Russian missiles, but in the end the Patriot system was damaged. This suggests that even advanced air defense ** has its limitations. The evolution and development of missile technology has led to the continuous improvement of the speed, accuracy and countermeasures of missiles, and has also faced greater challenges for air defense systems.
As can be seen from the experience of Ukraine, the development of missile technology has made traditional means of air defense gradually appear vulnerable. At the same time, the high speed and high accuracy of missiles also make miscalculations more likely to occur. Therefore, it is no longer enough to rely solely on air defense systems to protect ***, it is necessary to respond to the missile threat through diversified means.
Ukraine is facing a powerful missile threat from Russia, and the constantly updated and advanced missile technology has brought great challenges to Ukraine's security situation. As a small country, Ukraine must fully upgrade its defense capabilities to counter the Russian missile threat.
First of all, Ukraine should strengthen the construction of the missile defense system. In addition to introducing advanced air defense**, Ukraine also needs to strengthen its own missile reconnaissance, tracking and destruction capabilities. In addition, China will strengthen cooperation with the international community, jointly develop defensive missile technology, and strive for more technical support and resource input.
Secondly, Ukraine should also be strategically adjusted. In the face of Russia's missile threat, Ukraine should increase defense investment, strengthen the modernization of its army, and improve its ability to resist missile attacks. In addition, Ukraine can jointly develop a strategy and action plan to counter the missile threat by strengthening cooperation with its allies.
Finally, Ukraine should adopt a pluralistic security strategy. In addition to improving its missile defense capabilities, Ukraine can also take measures in the diplomatic, political, and economic fields to reduce its dependence on and influence on Russia and increase its own security guarantees.
To sum up, Ukraine faces a powerful missile threat from Russia. The debut of the Zircon missile shows that Russian missile technology is becoming more advanced and powerful. Ukraine must recognize the impact of the development of missile technology on its security situation, adopt corresponding security strategies and measures, and make every effort to safeguard the country's security and interests.