The Man Behind Russia’s First Kinzhal Launch Receives the Golden Star

President Vladimir Putin awarded the Golden Star medal to test pilot Andrey Shishov, recognizing him as a Hero of the Russian Federation for executing the first successful launch of the hypersonic Kinzhal missile system.

Photo: commons.wikimedia.org by Boevaya mashina, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

Kh-47M2 Kinzhal Army-2022

The Pilot Who Opened a New Chapter in Russia's Hypersonic Program

The ceremony materials highlighted a series of landmark achievements throughout Shishov's career. In 2017, he conducted the maiden flight of an experimental MiG-31 (Item 08), and the following year he commanded the aircraft in tests involving a new, classified weapon system.

"In September 2019, A. A. Shishov carried out the first successful launch of the hypersonic Kinzhal missile against a naval target in the Barents Sea using the MiG-31K, and in 2020 repeated the achievement on the MiG-31 (Item 06),” the ceremony documents noted.

These milestones, officials said, marked a substantial contribution to national defense and proved decisive in awarding him the country's highest state honor.

Why the Kinzhal Launches Matter

Hypersonic systems have become a signature element of Russia's evolving strategic doctrine, and Shishov's work positioned the Kinzhal project as one of its most advanced capabilities. His tests were the first to confirm the missile's ability to be launched at high speeds and altitudes, validating a concept that tightly integrates aircraft performance with missile trajectory.

Military analyst Yury Knutov told TASS that the Kinzhal's design allows it to strike targets with almost no warning. According to him, its minimal flight time is one of the factors that complicates any attempt at interception.

Technical Profile of the Kinzhal Hypersonic Missile

While much of the system remains classified, open characteristics and expert assessments provide a clearer picture of why the Kinzhal has become central to Russia's long-range strike doctrine. Below is an expanded overview of its capabilities:

Speed and Flight Characteristics

• Estimated top speed: Mach 10-12.
• Launch platform: Primarily the modified MiG-31K interceptor, capable of accelerating the missile before release.
• Flight profile: A combination of high-altitude ballistic trajectory and atmospheric maneuvering to complicate tracking.

Range and Target Types

• Reported operational range: Up to 2,000 km depending on launch altitude and velocity.
• Targeting: Designed to strike fortified facilities, naval vessels, command nodes, and infrastructure.

Guidance and Accuracy

• Guidance system: Inertial navigation with possible satellite correction during midcourse.
• Terminal phase: High-maneuverability descent intended to evade air-defense systems.

Warhead Options

• Conventional: Penetrator or high-explosive variants for hardened or naval targets.
• Strategic: Capable of carrying a nuclear payload, according to expert assessments.

Operational Significance

The Kinzhal is designed for rapid, unpredictable strikes delivered from fast, high-altitude aircraft. It compresses reaction time for defenders, making it a tool for both deterrence and strategic disruption. Russian officials emphasize that the system's speed and maneuverability make interception by most existing air-defense frameworks extremely difficult.

Award Rooted in Demonstrated Capability

For the Kremlin, Shishov's tests proved not only the missile's readiness but also the viability of a launch platform that merges aviation and missile technology. The Golden Star distinction, officials stressed, recognizes his "outstanding contribution to strengthening national defense and his achievements in flight testing.”

The ceremony underscored that Russia views the hypersonic program as a long-term pillar of its security strategy. And with the first successful Kinzhal launches now confirmed, the man who carried them out joins the ranks of the country's most decorated test pilots.