Russia Tests Hypersonic Cruise Missile And Hits Target 200 Miles Away
By Donald Standeford, Correspondent
Date Published: July 20th, 2021 03:30PM UTC
Last Modified: July 20th, 2021 03:30PM UTC
MOSCOW - Russia has successfully tested their new Zircon [Tsirkon] hypersonic cruise missile and hit a target 217 miles away on the Barents Sea coast at 7 times the speed of sound.
The Russian defense ministry stated, "During the tests, the tactical and technical characteristics of the Zircon missile were confirmed."
Russia stated that they are planning on equipping the hypersonic cruise missiles to their submarines and surface ships using the Tsirkon missile system.
A source from the military-industrial complex said, "The first launch from the Admiral Gorshkov frigate within the state trials is planned for the first part of August. The second part of August will see flight trials of Zircon from the Severodvinsk nuclear submarine".
Russian President Vladimir Putin bragged about the Tsirkon being part of a new generation of missile systems that are more advanced than the weapons of any other country in the world.
In his annual state of the nation speech in 2018 Putin had said, "A low-flying low-visibility cruise missile armed with a nuclear warhead and possessing a practically unlimited range, unpredictable flight path and the capability to impregnate practically all interception lines is invulnerable to all existing and future anti-missile and air defense weapons".
"The containment of Russia didn't succeed. It's time to recognize that reality. This isn't a bluff. No one has listened to us. You listen to us now."