Russia’s new Zircon hypersonic missile which is nuclear capable will be “put into service with the Navy this year.”
The missile has a range of 900km and the Kremlin announced this week that carried out “hypersonic missile exercises” in the west of the Atlantic Ocean.
Vladimir Putin has boasted that the Zircon nuclear capable hypersonic missile travels as nine times the speed of sound which “can hit navy or land targets” anywhere on earth within 30 minutes which is “invincible.”
Alexander Leonov, general director and general designer of the rocket design bureau Reutov NPO Mashinostroeniya told Russian state news outlet RIA Novosti, “You know, I’m not talking about performance. I confirm what the military says. And it is not customary for us to speak more broadly.
“But this is not the maximum range. The missile should be put into service with the Navy this year.”
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Leonov added, “A standard set of procedures and a set of documents for the adoption of Zircon into service is being carried out. There is nothing unusual here.”
In a statement released by Moscow’s Defence Ministry, the Admiral Gorshkov tested the Zircon hypersonic missile striking capabilities in the Atlantic Ocean.
The statement added, “In accordance with the training situation, the frigate practiced arranging [a] Tsirkon hypersonic missile strike against a maritime target at a distance over 900 kilometers away.”
The Ministry also said the Admiral Gorshkov ship “is a modern multi-purpose ship, equipped with guided missiles, and designed for operating in distant maritime and oceanic areas.
“Fitted with Tsirkon [missiles], the ship is capable of launching pinpoint and powerful strikes at any offshore and onshore targets.”
General Valery Gerasimov, chief of Russia’s military general staff warned that “Our country and its armed forces are today acting against the entire collective West.”
Putin put “Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union Gorshkov” on combat duty armed with the nuclear capable “Zircon hypersonic missiles” at the start of the month.
The Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said in a warning to the West and NATO, “This ship, armed with ‘Zircons’, is capable of delivering pinpoint and powerful strikes against the enemy at sea and on land.”
Putin warned, “This time the ship is equipped with the latest hypersonic missile system – ‘Zircon’ – which has no analogues.”
He added, “I would like to wish the crew of the ship success in their service for the good of the Motherland.”
The Russian Defence Ministry’s own channel, TV Zvezda said, “The speed of the Zircon hypersonic missile is so high that it prevents the opponent’s air defence system from detecting its impact in time.
“In fact, its launch will be known only after the target has been hit.”
Previously, the frigate’s Captain Igor Krokhmal has said, “No one will see the missile launch or its flight.
“They will only see when the missile hits the target.
“A surface target, a coastal target. I don’t think there will be anything to counter this in the next few years.”
