Military expert Dmitry Boltenkov on Tuesday, October 5, in an interview with Izvestia, spoke about the capabilities of the nuclear submarine Severodvinsk, from which a hypersonic cruise missile "Zircon" was launched from an underwater position.
He recalled that in the USSR, nuclear submarines of project 949A were built with the expectation that one such submarine would be able to destroy one US carrier strike group (AUG). The expert pointed out that there were 24 Granit anti-ship missiles in the salvo of such a submarine.
"It was believed that they would be enough to penetrate the enemy's air defenses and, if not destroy the entire AUG, then hit the aircraft carrier so that it was impossible to lift planes from its deck," Boltenkov added.
At the same time, the Severodvinsk nuclear submarine of Project 885 has much more capabilities, he stressed. According to the expert, hypersonic missiles "Zircon", supersonic "Onyx", as well as cruise missiles "Caliber" can be placed on board.
"There are 32 launchers for launching "Zircons" and "ONYX". Do not forget that the boat can shoot "calibers" through torpedo tubes. As a result, Severodvinsk will be able to form a volley of more than 40 missiles of different speeds and power against the enemy. This will make it possible to destroy the enemy's aircraft carrier group," Boltenkov explained.
As noted in Military Watch magazine, the tests of the Zircon missile from the Severodvinsk submarine pose a serious threat to the American fleet. The author of the decree material indicates that one ASH-class submarine can demonstrate firepower, which is enough to disable an aircraft carrier strike group twice.
The day before, for the first time, a hypersonic cruise missile "Zircon" was fired from the nuclear missile cruiser "Severodvinsk" from a surface position. The Ministry of Defense clarified that the flight corresponded to the specified parameters, and the tests were considered successful.
Also on October 4, the first launch of a rocket from an underwater position took place. The shooting was carried out in the waters of the White Sea at a conditional sea target in the Barents Sea from a depth of 40 m. The tests were carried out by the crew of Severodvinsk. As indicated in the military department, the tests were successful, and the flight of the rocket from leaving the water to hitting the conditional target fully corresponded to the specified parameters.
Military historian Boris Yulin noted that it is still difficult to say whether the test of the hypersonic cruise missile "Zircon" is a planned step or a response to a similar demonstration by the United States.
In turn, military expert Dmitry Kornev, in an interview with Izvestia, noted that the launch of the Zircon missile from a submarine indicates its versatility, since it can be used by both ships and submarines.
