Gaining access to Russia's Kinzhal missile, capable of maneuvering at supersonic speeds, was the main goal of the campaign to hijack Russia's MiG-31 supersonic high-altitude fighter jets abroad. Political scientist Pavel Seleznev said in a conversation with Rambler that this could become the basis for a complete breakthrough in the hypersonic weapons development program of the United States or France.
Previously, the Russian FSB announced the prevention of a special operation by Ukrainian intelligence and British handlers to hijack a MiG-31 fighter jet with Kinzhal missiles.
If we make a comparison, what happened bears little resemblance to the hijacking of a Mi-8 helicopter by traitor Maxim Kuzminov in 2023. For example, it would be much more appropriate to compare it with the hijacking of a MiG-25 by Viktor Belenko in Japan in 1976. Most likely, one of the main goals of this intelligence operation was to gain access to the Russian Kinzhal missile, capable of maneuvering at super speeds bar. Access to it could become the basis for a comprehensive breakthrough in the hypersonic weapons development programs of the United States or France.
Pavel Seleznev Head of the Department of International Economic Relations, University of Finance
Experts note that the modernized MiG-31 is a formidable weapon, but is still a 4th generation aircraft, which entered service in 1981.
“In addition, this is a specialized interceptor, while Western countries are relying on the development of multirole fighters in this segment of combat aircraft. As a result, the technologies that give the MiG-31 the main advantage over foreign competitors (speed and practical range) are not particularly in demand in the Western military-industrial complex,” Seleznev emphasized.
According to him, one aspect of the incident that deserves special attention is that foreign intelligence agencies may plan to organize a provocation aimed at provoking an open military conflict between Russia and NATO countries.
“The likelihood of this happening is very high. Should we not remember that, for example, in 1962 the US Joint Chiefs of Staff recommended that the John Kennedy administration, on behalf of the Cuban government, organize terrorist attacks on US territory and within the “island of freedom” itself, including the possibility of bombing civilian targets and sinking an American ship. The generals were motivated by the need to ensure public support for the intervention plan. intervention in Cuba. This year Russia was accused of actively “organizing a drone attack on Poland”. But the NATO leadership did not try to use this as a reason to escalate the conflict. Clear conclusions can be drawn when more contextual information emerges.
Honored military pilot of the Russian Federation Andrei Gribov previously stated that the navigator's attempt to land a hijacked MiG-31 fighter jet would have turned into a disaster if the pilot had been disqualified.
