Russia: Hypersonic missile successfully tested.
The Tsirkon hypersonic anti-ship missile could enter mass production in 2021 and be deployed a year later.
|
Graphic illustration of the 3M22 Tsirkon hypersonic missile. Photo:RBTH. |
Russia has conducted 10 tests of the 3M22 Tsirkon (Zircon) hypersonic anti-ship missile, hitting targets at sea hundreds of kilometers from the launch site.TASSAccording to sources in the defense industry, citing December 21st, Russia began testing the Tsirkon missile on warships four years ago and is now preparing to test-launch it from a coastal complex.
"The Tsirkon missile has repeatedly and successfully destroyed targets at sea at hypersonic speeds," the source said, but did not disclose the specific dates of the latest test. Another source said that Russian warships would conduct state-level testing of the Tsirkon missile in 2019.
According toCNBCRussia has been test-firing the Tsirkon hypersonic missile since 2015. In the most recent test on December 10th, the missile reached a speed of Mach 8 (eight times the speed of sound). Russia could mass-produce the Tsirkon missile in 2021 and deploy it in 2022. A representative from NPO Mashinostroyeniya, the corporation developing the Tsirkon, declined to comment on this information.
The 3M22 Tsirkon hypersonic anti-ship missile has a range of approximately 400 km. Some experts suggest that the Tsirkon missile may share the same launch platform as the Kalibr and Oniks cruise missiles. The Tsirkon missile can be equipped on Project 20380 frigates, Project 22350 corvettes, Project 885 Yasen submarines, and Kirov-class nuclear-powered guided missile cruisers.