Russia Aimed A Kinzhal Hypersonic Missile At Ukraine's Only Bomber Base. A Special Jamming System Threw The Missile Off-Course.
The Lima EW jamming system protected the precious Sukhoi bombers in Starokostiantyniv.
The Ukrainian air force’s Sukhoi Su-24 bombers are the only Ukrainian warplanes that can fire Ukraine’s best cruise missiles: its British-made Storm Shadows and French-made SCALP-EGs.
Even as Ukraine deploys more and more domestically developed deep-strike drones and ground-launched cruise and ballistic missiles, the Storm Shadows and SCALP-EGs—with their high speed, long range, accurate seekers and powerful warheads—remain uniquely capable.
It’s not for no reason Russian forces have been trying, and largely failing, to target the twin-engine, supersonic Su-24s on the ground at their base in Starokostiantyniv in western Ukraine. And it’s not for no reason Ukrainian forces take pains to protect the Starokostiantyniv base—with some of their best electronic warfare systems.
On or just before Nov. 10, at least one Russian air force Mikoyan MiG-31 interceptor launched a Kinzhal hypersonic missile in the direction of Starokostiantyniv. It’s likely the Su-24s were among the intended targets.
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