An updated variant of a lethal Russian hypersonic aircraft has apparently been observed in operation in Ukraine, inflicting havoc on the country as Putin’s invasion proceeds.
NATO troops refer to the supersonic Tupolev Tu-22M3M as Backfire. It was upgraded in 2018 to carry supersonic missiles capable of travelling at thousands of miles per hour while avoiding conventional missile defence systems.

Previously, the warplane was utilised during the Syrian conflict, departing from Russia and flying through Iran and Iraq to attack its targets with lethal precision and accuracy.

The head of Russia’s Defence and Security Committee, Viktor Bondarev, stated: “This bomber, combined with the Tu-160 and Tu-95, secures Russian strategic long-range aviation dominance.

“The Tu-22M3 long-range bombers performed admirably in Syria.””

The bombers were employed in the early phases of the fighting in Ukraine. On February 28, the Ukrainian Air Force stated on Facebook that Russia used the high-tech TU-22M3M bomber to attack a residential area in Kharkiv, Ukraine.

Earlier this month, Russia is also said to have used hypersonic missiles. These are some of the world’s quickest missiles. They can reach speeds of up to 21,000 mph when mounted on the TU-22M3M bomber, making it nearly difficult for anti-aircraft systems to prevent them from striking their targets.

According to local news agency Zvezda, the Russian military deployed the Kinzhal hypersonic missile to demolish an underground ammo stockpile in Delyatyn, Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast.

Hypersonic missiles may be armed with nuclear bombs and launched from space to hit anyplace on Earth in minutes. According to reports, both China and Russia are working on hypersonic technology to bypass anti-ballistic missile defence systems.

Last August, China allegedly tested the ‘Long March’ rocket, which carried a ‘hypersonic glide vehicle’ into orbit. Although the missile missed its target by 32 kilometres, the test demonstrated China’s “astonishing development.”