Russia has conducted new tests of the Zircon hypersonic missile. During them, a missile fired from the frigate Admiral Gorshkov hit the target with a direct hit.
Russia continues testing one of the main novelties of its defense industry - a hypersonic missile for the Navy. As it became known, new tests were conducted from the frigate project 22350. The product hit the target in the White Sea with a direct hit.
"According to objective control data, the flight of the hypersonic missile corresponded to the specified parameters. The target was hit by a direct hit, " TASS quotes the text of the statement of the military department.
Hypersonic missile "Zircon" from the frigate "Admiral Gorshkov" hit the target with a direct hit, according to the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation. The rocket was launched as part of the final test cycle. pic.twitter.com/5q0Hx5mh4Y- REN TV / News (@rentvchannel) November 18, 2021
To ensure firing and close the area, Russia has attracted surface ships and naval aviation of the Northern Fleet.
Earlier it was reported that the state tests of the hypersonic "Zircon" will begin in November and will continue in December. In total, five launches should be carried out on targets at sea and on shore.
Recently, the program has passed an important stage: the rocket was successfully launched from the board of the nuclear submarine Severodvinsk — the first Russian multi-purpose submarine of the fourth generation. This is the only ship built according to the basic project 885. The first full-time underwater carrier of the Zircon, however, will not be him, but the Perm nuclear submarine belonging to the upgraded 885M project.
Test launch of the hypersonic missile "Zircon" from the nuclear submarine "Severodvinsk"
Image Source: Russian Defense Ministry
If we talk about surface carriers, then the first full-time carrier of the hypersonic complex will be the frigate Admiral Golovko. This is the third frigate of project 22350. According to the plans, sea trials of the ship should begin next year.
Other carriers of the Zircon included, in particular, a promising nuclear submarine of the fifth generation, as well as heavy nuclear missile cruisers of the 1144 Orlan project.
Hypersonic missile takes off from the standard launcher of the new ships of the Russian fleet
Image source: RIA Novosti, Ministry of Defense
Whoever gets a new rocket in the end, one thing is for sure: the project is moving forward confidently. Recently, it became known about the completion of flight design tests of the Zircon from a surface carrier. In August, it was reported that the Russian Defense Ministry and NPO Mashinostroeniya signed the first contract for the supply of these missiles. The Zircon is to enter service with the fleet in 2022.
The characteristics of the product are not known for certain. During the tests, the rocket was able to reach a speed of M = 8. The flight range of the "Zircon", according to some sources, exceeds 1000 kilometers (according to other information, it is about 450 kilometers). The mass of the warhead is 300-400 kilograms.
