As it became known, Russian specialists have successfully completed flight design tests of the hypersonic missile "Zircon" from a surface carrier. Soon the fleet may receive the first such complexes.
TASS reported about the next successful stage in the program of a new hypersonic missile, citing a source. "LKI (flight design tests. - Editor's note) “Zircon" from the shore stand and the lead frigate of project 22350 "Admiral Gorshkov" have been successfully completed. More than ten launches have been carried out, the last of them in July," the agency interlocutor said.
The next stage of the tests of "Zircon" is planned to begin in November. In 2022, the tests can continue, after which scheduled deliveries to the Armed Forces will begin.
Recently, special attention has been focused on the rocket. Recall that recently the Ministry of Defense and NPO Mashinostroeniya signed the first contract for the supply of Zircons.
Launch of "Zircon" / ©TASS
It is assumed that the complex will give the Russian Navy fundamentally new capabilities. It is known that the rocket developed a speed of M = 8 on tests. The range of its flight, according to various sources, ranges from 400 kilometers and more than 1000 kilometers. The mass of the warhead is a maximum of 400 kilograms.
Both surface ships and submarines will receive the missile. If we talk about specific carriers, then among them were, in particular, frigates of project 22350, multipurpose submarines of project 885M and a promising fifth-generation submarine. The first full-time carrier will be the Admiral Golovko frigate of Project 22350.
Recently, work on hypersonic weapons has intensified not only in Russia, but in a number of other countries. First of all, we are talking about the United States, which is creating hypersonic weapons for several types of Armed Forces at once, including the Air Force and Navy.
So far, not all projects can be implemented in practice. Recently, the Americans again encountered difficulties during the tests of the AGM-183 ARRW hypersonic complex, which should be used by strategic bombers. The product separated from the carrier aircraft, but its engine could not be activated.
AGM-183 ARRW
Image source: thedrive
On the other hand, another hypersonic complex, the Hypersonic Air—breathing Weapon Concept, or HAWC, has recently been successfully tested in the USA. In the foreseeable future, it will be able to use a variety of combat aircraft — both strategic bombers and fighters.
We also recall that yesterday the first tests of a new hypersonic missile were conducted by the DPRK. The complex received the designation "hWasong-8".