Russia successfully tests its latest Zircon hypersonic missile

The Russian navy on Saturday conducted another test of a possible hypersonic missile, a demonstration of the military’s long-range strike capability amid fighting in Ukraine.

The Defense Ministry said the Northern Fleet’s Admiral Gorshkov frigate in the White Sea launched the Zircon cruise missile in the Barents Sea, successfully hitting a practice target in the White Sea some 1,000 km (540 nautical miles). ) away.

The launch was the latest in a series of tests for Zircon, which will enter service later this year.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that Zircon is capable of flying at nine times the speed of sound and has a range of 1,000 km (620 miles). Putin has emphasized that their deployment will significantly increase the capacity of Russia’s military.

Zircon is intended to arm Russian cruisers, frigates and submarines and could be used against enemy ships and ground targets. It is one of several hypersonic missiles under development in Russia.

Russian officials have boasted about Zircon’s ability, saying it is impossible to intercept with existing anti-missile systems.

Putin, who has sternly warned Western allies not to interfere in Ukraine, has warned in the past that Zircon-armed Russian warships would give Russia the ability to attack decision-making centers in minutes if deployed in waters. neutrals.

(Only the headline and image in this report may have been modified by Business Standard staff; all other content is auto-generated from a syndicated source.)

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