Few aircraft weapons cause such heated discussions as the "Dagger". For some, this is "unparalleled in the world" hypersonic weapon, but for someone - another "drank and saw." One thing is clear: before us is an air-launched aeroballistic missile, capable of developing hypersonic speed in certain flight segments. It has a high range and accuracy sufficient to destroy a large ship. However, we will not go into all the known details of the X-47M2. Moreover, attempts to evaluate the project have been made several times before. Better to talk about what aircraft will use (or are using now) as carriers of the complex.
MiG-31K
Complex status: in service.
Number of aircraft: at least ten.
Number of rockets: one.
Operating range: more than 2000 kilometers.
Based on the MiG-25 that made its first flight back in 1964, the MiG-31 is the only full-fledged Russian fighter-interceptor. There are no alternatives to it, so now more than a hundred of these machines have been upgraded to the MiG-31BM standard - a relatively "modest" upgrade against the background of what could have been. But still. In this regard, the idea of upgrading part of the MiG-31 to the level of the MiG-31K (that is, the carrier of "Daggers") looks somewhat ambiguous.
The fact is that after the modernization, the aircraft can no longer use the standard long-range air-to-air weapons in the form of the R-33 missiles. Which, we recall, like the X-47M2, are suspended on the outer ventral holders. The previously presented footage shows that the plane does not have the usual suspension points for the R-33 class missile, and a new suspension unit was developed specifically for the Dagger, which once again confirms the thesis about the very large mass of the product and the overall complexity of the system.
In general, the MiG-31 + Kh-47M2 bundle looks like a forced measure, in which an aircraft of this type will be able to take only one missile, thus depriving it of the opportunity to fulfill its main role - the interception of cruise missiles and bombers. Recall that the United States and Europe have long gone the other way - by miniaturizing aircraft weapons, as well as integrating them into a variety of aircraft complexes. As for the advantages of the scheme chosen by Russia, the main thing is seen as the very high speed of the interceptor: in the basic version, the machine can fly at a speed of more than 3000 kilometers per hour.
Be that as it may, now the MiG-31K is the only confirmed carrier of the "Daggers". If we talk about the number of such machines, then since December 2017, the MiG-31K squadron with the "Daggers" has been on duty in the Southern Military District, and since April 2018, the MiG-31K have been carrying out regular flights over the Black and Caspian Seas.
Tu-22M3 / M3M + "Dagger"
Complex status: not in service.
Number of aircraft: -
Number of rockets: up to four.
Operating range: more than 3000 kilometers.
The most logical carrier of the "Daggers" is an aircraft that was originally created for similar purposes, namely the long-range Tu-22M bomber. Recall, it is capable of carrying the Kh-22 anti-ship cruise missiles and the already decommissioned Soviet aeroballistic Kh-15, the conditional analogue of which can be considered the Kh-47M2. Recall that Russia has about fifty Tu-22M3s: at least some of them are being upgraded to the level of Tu-22M3M. The task of modernization is to extend the life of the aircraft up to forty calendar years and to give it the ability to use new aircraft weapons, in particular, the Kh-32 cruise missiles.
As RIA Novosti noted in 2018, citing a source in the military-industrial complex, the Tu-22M3 will be able to carry up to four Dagger missiles, which, of course, will require additional modernization.
“Serious modernization will be required in terms of radio-electronic equipment and strengthening of the external sling on which these missiles could be placed. Apparently, these moments will be worked out during the tests , - said on this occasion military expert Viktor Murakhovsky.
A serious advantage of this solution is that the Tu-22M3 has a much more substantial combat radius than the MiG-31. Among the shortcomings is perhaps the considerable age of the bombers.
Tu-160M / M2 + "Dagger"
Complex status: not in service.
Number of aircraft: -
Number of rockets: unknown.
Range: unknown.
This car has recently received special attention from the media. Recall that on February 2, the deeply modernized Tu-160M, which was created on the basis of the Igor Sikorsky Tu-160 combat bomber (tail number 14, "red"), performed its maiden flight. The car received new on-board electronics. The aircraft of the new construction, made in the same configuration, received the designation Tu-160M2.
The main intrigue is the armament of the aviation complex. The strategic bomber is traditionally seen as the carrier of the Kh-101 cruise missiles, and, possibly, the promising Kh-BD. However, "Dagger" also wants to be included in the composition of possible aviation weapons. “The possibility of installing Dagger missiles on the Tu-160 is being considered. The development of such an option should be completed this year, "a source in the military-industrial complex told TASS in 2020. However, without specifying any details.
Of course, in terms of the mass of the combat load, any Tu-160 is several times greater than the Tu-22M3 / M3M, which, together with a large range of action, opens up hitherto unprecedented opportunities for the use of the Kh-47M2. However, the disadvantages, in general, remain the same. So, for example, even if the "Daggers" are placed in the internal compartments, the Tu-160 will be perfectly visible on US radars.
Su-57 + "Dagger"
Complex status: not in service.
Number of aircraft: -
Number of rockets: unknown.
Range: unknown.
In 2018, it became known about the idea to equip a new Russian fifth generation fighter with the Kh-47M2 Dagger missile. True, it will be (if any) very soon.
“After 2030, this aircraft is planned to be considered as an aircraft carrier for the promising Kinzhal aviation complex, - quoted the representative of the Russian Air Force RIA Novosti.
Obviously, the missile is too large to fit into the internal compartments of a fighter. This means that the Su-57 will be able to carry the "Dagger" only on external suspensions, which, of course, excludes its main trump card - stealth.
In general, there are no big advantages in the case of choosing the Su-57 as a carrier, since Russia (we were convinced of this above) has a wide range of various air platforms that would be much more logical to use for such a purpose.
By the way, in the media you can find information about the idea of equipping a promising strategic bomber with "hypersonic weapons", which is being created as part of the PAK DA program. However, without specifying the specific type of ammunition. Will the Dagger turn out to be this weapon? We will learn about that in the future.
