Russia test-fires hypersonic Zircon cruise missile from Admiral Gorshkov-class frigate

Europe, News June 1, 2022 , by IRIA No Comments

Russian Defense Ministry announced on May 28 that Moscow’s Project 22350 frigate Admiral Gorshkov fired a Tsirkon (Zircon) missile from the Barents Sea at a naval target in the White Sea.

According to the Russian Defense Ministry statement, the missile successfully hit the target, which was approximately 1,000 kilometers away, and the flight went as planned.

Russia’s TASS news agency quoted a military industrial complex source as saying that “the May 28 trial launch of the newest Russian Tsirkon hypersonic missile was performed at a maximum distance; this job finalized the state trials for the product for surface naval carriers.”

“The launch of the Tsirkon at a maximum distance successfully finalized the program of state trials for surface naval carrier,” TASS reported.

Russian President Vladimir Putin described the Tsirkon hypersonic missile as “part of a new generation of unparalleled weapon systems.” According to Putin, the Tsirkon missile can “hit both seaborne and ground targets” and would significantly enhance “Russia’s security and its defense capability”.

The 3M22 Tsirkon, also known as Zircon, is Russia’s hypersonic anti-ship cruise missile. The missile system was announced by Putin in 2018 as part of the five new weapons. According to Russian sources, the Zircon hypersonic missile can reach speeds of up to Mach 9 (nine times the speed of sound), slightly less than 7,000 miles per hour, and has a range of approximately 1,000 kilometers.

Russia launches Tsirkon hypersonic missile from ship.(Image Credit: Russian Defense Ministry/TASS) — *^{Russia launches Tsirkon hypersonic missile from a ship. (Image Credit: Russian Defense Ministry/TASS)}*

Earlier in October 2021, the Russian Navy’s Severodvinsk nuclear submarine (K-560) successfully conducted the first test launch of the Tsirkon hypersonic missile from the nuclear-powered attack submarine Severodvinsk, which was fired against a simulated maritime target in the Barents Sea from the White Sea.

In December 2021, Russia tested the simultaneous launch of multiple (about 10) Tsirkon hypersonic missiles from a frigate and two from a submarine.

Hypersonic missiles fly much faster and are more agile than usual missiles, which makes them difficult for missile defense systems to intercept. Compared with Russia’s older supersonic cruise missiles, the Tsirkon missile would provide substantial performance advantages and pose a significant threat to the U.S. and NATO carrier strike groups, according to Russian officials and experts

The latest test launch of Russia’s advanced hypersonic missile “at a maximum distance” shows the Russian military’s long-range strike capability which is considered a threat by the U.S. and European nations.