Russian MoD Provides First Look at Zircon Hypersonic Anti-Ship Cruise Missile: What Can It Do For the Navy?

<p >The Russian Defence Ministry has released the first ever footage of a 3M22 Zircon hypersonic cruise missile, after one of the missiles was launched during exercises. The public demonstration of the new weapon’s capabilities is seen to mark a major milestone in the modernisation of the country’s navy. The missile class was first announced in March 2018, and combines a long 1000 kilometre engagement range with a Mach 9 speed, the kinetic energy from which is considered capable of tearing most warships in half. Designed primarily as an anti ship missile, the Zircon also has a secondary land attack capability. Its combination of speed, manoeuvrability and a low altitude terminal stage are thought to make it effectively impossible to intercept for existing air defence systems. The missile is <a href=" >deployed</a> by a number of Russian warship classes, with its first combat duty <a href=" >having begun</a> in January 2023.</p><p >The value of the Zircon as a force multiplier for the Russian Navy was previously summarised by then-Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu as follows: “A ship fitted with Zircons is capable of carrying out high-precision and powerful strikes on the enemy at sea and on land… The unique feature of Zircon hypersonic missiles is their guaranteed ability to bypass any existing or prospective air defence systems.” With the bulk of the Russian Navy’s surface fleet comprised of small frigate and corvette sized ships, and as the country has laid down no new destroyers or cruisers for the fleet since the Soviet era, a missile advantage is vital to providing an asymmetric edge against Western Bloc fleets. Allowing Russia to deploy more of the missiles much more cheaply, a ground based mobile launch vehicle for Zircon missiles is currently also <a href=" >under development</a>. The development of air launched variants has also been widely speculated, primarily for deployment by <a href=" target="_blank">MiG-31I strike fighters </a>as a more advanced successor to the <a href=" target="_blank">Kinzhal missile</a>.</p>