Russia Says Zircon Missile Attains Mach 8, 450km Range During First Firing Test

Watch Successful Launch of Russia's Zircon Hypersonic Cruise Missile

(Source: Sputnik News; posted Oct 7, 2020)

The Russian defense ministry said that the first Zircon hypersonic missile was fired on Tuesday from the frigate Admiral Gorshkov; the missile reportedly flew a distance of 450 km. in four and a half minutes, during which it reached a speed of over Mach 8. (RUS MoD photo)

Russian President Vladimir Putin has already praised the successful test launch of a Zircon hypersonic cruise missile, describing it as an important event for the country contributing to the nation's security.

The Russian Defence Ministry has published a video of the launch of a Zircon hypersonic cruise missile from the frigate Admiral Gorshkov in the White Sea.

Фрегат «Адмирал Горшков» выполнил успешный пуск гиперзвуковой ракеты «Циркон» из Белого моря на дальность 440 км.

По словам начальника Генштаба ВС, она успешно поразила морскую мишень в Баренцевом море. При этом скорость звука ракетой была превышена в восемь раз. pic.twitter.com/w7bnFWHcZc

— Телеканал 360° (@360tv) October 7, 2020

The footage shows a rocket starting up from an open launch container situated on the upper deck of the ship's bow, circling in the air and flying towards its target in the Barents Sea.

The Ministry of Defence stated earlier in the day that Project 22350's lead vessel "Admiral of the Soviet Union Fleet Gorshkov" deployed in the White Sea had fired a Zircon hypersonic cruise missile at a target in the Barents Sea.

According to objective control data, the Zircon hypersonic anti-ship cruise missile, flying at a speed of more than Mach 8, reached a sea target at a distance of 450 kilometres with a direct hit.

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Putin Hails Successful Launch of Zircon Hypersonic Cruise Missile as 'Major Event' for Russia

(Source: Sputnik News; posted Oct 7, 2020)

A Zircon hypersonic cruise missile has successfully hit a target in the Barents Sea, the Russian Ministry of Defence stated. The military stressed that the missile flew around 450 kilometres, reaching Mach 8 speeds.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has hailed the successful test of a Zircon missile, stating it was an important event for the country and contributes to the nation's security. He also expressed gratitude to all of the people involved in the project, thanking Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu and Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces Valery Gerasimov as well.

"I would like to thank all of you for the work done, for its results and express hope that in the future all of the specialists involved in the rearmament of the Russian military will [continue to] work as efficiently and as persistently as it has done to this point", the president said during a video meeting with the General Staff.

Putin made the statement after the military confirmed the successful completion of the test.

"Yesterday, the frigate Admiral Gorshkov launched the Zircon cruise missile from the White Sea at a target located in the Barents Sea. The task was completed successfully, a direct hit was registered. The range of the flight reached 450 kilometres [279 miles], maximum altitude totaled 28 kilometres, and the duration of the flight totaled 4.5 minutes. The missile developed a speed of over Mach 8", General Gerasimov said.

The 3M22 Zircon is a scramjet-powered manoeuvring anti-ship hypersonic cruise missile that is expected to enter service in the coming years.

Testing of the Zircon began in 2015, with nearly a dozen launches completed by 2018. President Putin mentioned the Zircon in his 2018 speech to parliament as one of the main strategic systems capable of evading American missile defences and thus guaranteeing Russia's response capability.

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