A U.S.-made Patriot air defense system was reportedly used to shoot down a Russian hypersonic missile in Ukraine late this week, marking perhaps the first time that a hypersonic missile has ever been shot down in combat.
Ukraine Air Force commander Mykola Oleshchuk claimed that the newly-acquired weapon from the U.S. was used to shoot down a Russian hypersonic missile called Kinzhal, or “Dagger” in Russian.
“Congratulations to the Ukrainian people on a historic event!” Oleshchuk posted on Telegram. “Yes, we brought down the ‘unparalleled’ Kinzhal!”
Air Force spokesman Yurii Ihnat said that intercepting the nuclear-capable Kinzhal was “a slap in the face for Russia” because the Russians “were saying that the Patriot is an outdated American weapon, and Russian weapons are the best in the world.”
“Well, there is confirmation that it effectively works against even a super-hypersonic missile,” he added.
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