The Northern Fleet of the Russian Armed Forces conducted about 12 launches of the hypersonic cruise missile "Zircon". This was announced on December 31 by the press service of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation.
"The crew of the lead frigate project 22350 "Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union Gorshkov" successfully conducted a complex of tests of the hypersonic cruise missile "Zircon", having completed a total of about ten launches. The crew of the lead nuclear submarine of the project 885 Yasen Severodvinsk performed two test firings with Zircon," the publication on the agency's website states.
In total, the Northern Fleet has carried out more than 70 tests of new weapons.
On December 24, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that in the morning of the same day, a successful salvo launch of a hypersonic missile "Zircon" took place. According to him, the tests passed "flawlessly". The Head of State stressed that this is a great event in the life of the country and a significant step in improving Russia's security, in increasing its defense capability.
Earlier, on December 16, the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that the frigate "Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union Gorshkov" performed a test firing of a hypersonic missile "Zircon" on a coastal target. It was noted that the flight corresponded to the specified parameters. The shooting was deemed successful, the target was hit.
Also, the military department pointed out that surface ships and naval aviation of the Northern Fleet were involved in providing shooting and closing the area.
On November 3, Putin announced that hypersonic missiles "Zircon" will begin to arrive in the Navy from next year.
Hypersonic weapons were presented in Russia in 2018. In addition to the Zircon missiles, the list includes the Dagger and Avangard complexes.
