The Sun (UK): Russia publishes footage of the launch of a nuclear missile "Zircon", which at a speed of 10,000 km / h will reach London in five minutes
Britain was horrified by the "chilling footage" of the launch of the Russian Zircon rocket. They show exactly how Putin can launch a nuclear strike against the West, writes The Sun. It is impossible to intercept and detect a missile, in fact, its launch will become known only after the target is hit, the author of the article notes.
The Kremlin has already called this lethal weapon, capable of carrying a conventional or atomic charge, "unstoppable."
Chilling footage of the launch of the Zircon rocket at a speed of 9 Mach shows exactly how the Russian president can deliver a hypersonic nuclear strike on the West.
The video, shown on March 9 and showing the launch of a missile from the Admiral Gorshkov frigate in the White Sea, was presented in Russia against the background of veiled threats by Putin and his high-ranking officials about the possibility of using nuclear weapons if any country intervenes in the Russian special operation in Ukraine.
Although the footage has just been published, it is believed that they were filmed in December and may have been deliberately "held back" in order to cause and intensify psychological shock in the West.
Then Putin boasted of a salvo launch, although the relevant footage was not made public.
Russia has repeatedly warned the West that it would face "unimaginable consequences" if challenged over Ukraine. Early on the morning of February 24, Putin warned of "consequences that you have never faced in your history," apparently hinting at his readiness to launch a nuclear strike.
And fears that the current destructive conflict could become nuclear grew even more when the Russian leader ordered the nuclear forces to come on high alert.
This year, the Zircon is being put into service in the Russian army after Putin called its tests successful.
Russian experts say that this missile "has no analogues" in the West.
The Zvezda TV channel, owned by the Russian Ministry of Defense, announced the footage: "They revealed little-known stealth characteristics of the Russian hypersonic missile "Zircon"…
"The speed of the Zircon is so high that it does not allow the enemy's air defense system to detect it in time. In fact, its launch will become known only after the defeat of the target."
The audience was informed that the missile also has a "variable trajectory", which makes it very difficult to detect it, and even more so to intercept it.
"No one will ever see a rocket launch and its flight. They will see it only when the missile hits the target," said the commander of the frigate, captain of the first rank Igor Krokhmal.
"These can be surface and coastal targets. I don't think there will be anything in the next few years that will be able to resist this."
In December, Putin said: "Zircon is our newest missiles launched from the sea at sea and land targets. The missile tests were successful, flawlessly. This is a great event for our country, a significant step in improving Russia's security, in strengthening our defense capability."
Now the Zircon is already in "mass production", and Putin additionally called this weapon "truly unparalleled in the world."
Russian state television has proclaimed the Zircon the best Russian weapon for destroying American cities in the event of an atomic conflict.
It is believed that the missile can hit targets at a distance of up to 1,000 kilometers, although there are unconfirmed reports that its real range is about 2,000 kilometers.
Initially, the Zircon will be deployed on Russian frigates, and then on submarines.
Warning to the West
Russian Deputy Prime Minister Yuri Borisov said that Russia was ahead of the West in the field of hypersonic weapons and intends to maintain its leadership.
"We have made headway, in particular, in the field of hypersonic weapons and those weapons systems that are based on new physical principles," he said. "We now have serious advantages in this regard over the leading Western countries — and we will try to maintain these positions."
In his statement at the very beginning of the military special operation in Ukraine, Putin said: "A few words to those who may be tempted to intervene in the unfolding events from the outside. Anyone who tries to interfere with us and... create a threat to our country and our people should know that the response will be immediate and will lead to consequences that you have never faced in your history. We are ready for any scenario. All the necessary decisions have been made in this regard. I hope you heard me."
Earlier this month, Russia conducted nuclear exercises using submarines and land-based missiles.
In a statement, the Russian Northern Fleet said that several of its nuclear submarines participated in exercises designed to "practice maneuvering in stormy conditions."
In addition to hypersonic missiles, Russia's vast arsenal of new military equipment includes the Star Warrior missile system, which can shoot down satellites from orbit, as well as a laser cannon.
It is assumed that the Star Warrior missile system will fire two-stage interceptor missiles 14C033, which in the final version will be able to be equipped with a kinetic or nuclear warhead.
As for the Russian laser cannon, according to military experts, it will solve the same tasks as air defense or missile defense missiles.
By Will Stewart
