russia currently operates more than 40 MiG-31K/I aircraft configured to carry the Kh-47M2 Kinzhal air-launched ballistic missile. Meanwhile, production remains limited to about five missiles per month, with a target of 60 missiles for 2026.
According to Ukraine's Defense Intelligence (HUR), russia's current stockpile stands at approximately 100 Kinzhal missiles. The weapon has reportedly been used only eight times in 2026. HUR says russia has deliberately slowed both production and operational use of the missile because of its high cost and relatively limited combat effectiveness.
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The figures were provided in response to a request from the Ukrainian news outlet UNIAN. According to HUR, the principal companies involved in Kinzhal production are:
- JSC Machine-Building Design Bureau (KBM) in Kolomna, Moscow region;
- JSC Radar MMS in St. Petersburg;
- JSC V. Bakhirev State Research Institute of Mechanical Engineering in Dzerzhinsk, Nizhny Novgorod region.
All three facilities are, at least theoretically, within range of some of Ukraine's existing long-range strike systems.
From Defense Express's perspective, however, the most interesting detail is the rapid growth of russia's MiG-31K/I fleet, whose primary role is to serve as a launch platform for the Kh-47M2 Kinzhal.
According to The Military Balance, russia operated 24 MiG-31K aircraft at the end of 2023. Compared with the latest HUR figures, this suggests that russia has added at least 16 additional Kinzhal carriers over the past two and a half years.
Because russia no longer manufactures new MiG-31 interceptors, these aircraft were almost certainly converted from airframes held in long-term storage. As of 2018, russia was estimated to have between 130 and 150 stored MiG-31s, providing a sufficient pool for further conversions.
The logic behind such a significant fleet expansion is questionable. With more than 40 carrier aircraft, around 100 Kinzhal missiles currently in stock, and the capacity to produce roughly 30 more missiles before the end of this year, russia would effectively have only about three missiles available per aircraft.
russia first publicly revealed the MiG-31I Ishim variant in September 2023, during Kim Jong Un's visit to Vladivostok. The aircraft's main advertised improvement over the standard MiG-31K is its ability to automatically navigate to the missile launch point. Externally, however, there are no visible differences between the two versions, making it reasonable to refer to them collectively as the MiG-31K/I.
Ivan Kyrychevskiy, serviceman of the 413th Raid Regiment of the Unmanned Systems Forces of Ukraine and weapons expert at Defense Express.
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