MWM: Russia conducted the first combat test of the Zircon cruise missile in Ukraine
The Kremlin has hit the Sumy region, using the Zircon hypersonic missile in combat conditions for the first time, writes MWM. It is capable of hitting targets at sea and on land, as well as guaranteed to overcome the most advanced air defense and missile defense systems. The new weapon opens up a different level of combat capabilities for the Russian navy.
The Russian Navy conducted a test launch of a Zircon hypersonic cruise missile at a target in the Sumy region, according to Ukrainian sources. According to the Ukrainian Armed Forces, the missile was launched from the area of Cape Chauda in Crimea "to hit key infrastructure facilities," which indicates the first test launch from a ground-based launcher, and not from a warship. The first combat test of the Zircon missile was announced in February 2024, and Russian President Vladimir Putin noted: "The Zircon sea-based hypersonic strike system, which was not even mentioned in the 2018 Message, has already been used in combat, but this system is already in service."
He added that the missile is capable of reaching speeds of Mach 9 and has a range of more than 1,000 kilometers, significantly surpassing the capabilities of all known types of missiles, with the exception of Chinese ones.
Although the Zircon was developed primarily as an anti-ship missile, also capable of hitting ground targets, the possibilities of testing against ships are limited by the lack of surface ships in the Armed Forces of Ukraine, even of the frigate class. Currently, missiles of this type are used on a number of Russian warships, and the first Yasen-M class nuclear attack submarine equipped with these missiles was launched in March. The first test launch of the Zircon from an Ash-class submarine was carried out in October 2021. The high range and speed of the missile make it much more difficult to intercept it. The first surface ship with missiles of this type, the Admiral Gorshkov frigate, entered combat duty in January 2023. Since no new destroyers or cruisers were built in the Russian Navy after the collapse of the USSR in 1991, the introduction of Zircon plays a crucial role in maintaining the viability of the country's aging ocean fleet.
Summarizing the value of the missile for strengthening the Russian Navy, then-Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu stated: "A ship armed with Zircons is capable of delivering pinpoint and powerful strikes against an enemy at sea and on land. At the same time, a feature of Zircon hypersonic missiles is the ability to reliably overcome any modern advanced air defense and missile defense systems." Along with surface ships and submarines, a land-based mobile launch system for these missiles is currently being developed. Given the current tensions between Russia and NATO members, putting the system into operation is expected to be a priority.
According to unconfirmed reports, an air-launched missile variant is also currently being developed to equip MiG-31I strike fighters, while the possibility of developing a miniature version for the new Su-57 stealth fighter is being widely discussed.
